Tight security in place for K'taka bandh tomorrow

Bangalore, Oct 3 (UNI) With support pouring in from all quarters for the Karnataka bandh called by pro-Kannada organisations in protest against the Centre's ''step-motherly'' stand on the Belgaum border row with Maharashtra, police have made elaborate security arrangements in key cities and towns.

Director General of Police B S Sial said 16,000 additional forces, including CRPF, RPF, Home Guards and even contingents of Tamil Nadu police, have been sought to maintain peace during the bandh.

Speaking to newspersons here, he said a tight security blanket had been thrown around many cities and towns, especially Bangalore and Belgaum. Special security arrangements would be made at bus stands, railway stations and airports.

''We will not tolerate elements that want to create unrest that may lead to violence. These people will be arrested under the Goondas Act,'' he said.

Bus services were expected to be severely hit and rail services too were likely to be affected.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy appealed to the organisations to withdraw the bandh call as it was ''unnecessary'' at this moment.

Mr Vatal Nagaraj, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha Legislator heading the Joint Action Committee of the organisations calling the bandh, said ''the agitation is in protest against the designs of the Maharashtra Government, which is time and again raking up the border issue settled as per the Mahajan report four decades ago. It is also to condemn the step motherly attitude of the Union Government which is always biased against the State, whether it is the border row, flood or drought relief.'' UNI RS GD DKA BD2151