Dakshnia Kannada district limps back to normalcy

Mangalore, Oct 6: Eerie silence descended upon Mangalore city, Bantwal and Puttur towns in Dakshina Kannada district today which was rocked by violent incidents since Wednesday night that left more than 25 people injured.

In order to stop the agitators police had resorted to firing in the air, used tear gas shells and ordered to the charge at various places. Violence erupted following an incident of a mini lorry, allegedly carrying cows to a slaughter house, hits a jeep at Kudroli in the city limits.

Police today lathi charged the agitators in Puttur town who were forcing some shop owners to close down their establishments. Ten people had been arrested in this connection.

Mangalore city also saw some minor stone pelting incident. However situation remained under control. Ban orders under 144 CrPC under inforced in force in all the three places.

District in-charge minister B Nagaraja Shetty visited some sensitive areas in this city today.

The district observed bandh for the second day since yesterday which was called by the Sri Ram Sena whose activists today protested against the arrest of their leader Pramod Mutalik in Bababudangiri hills in Chikmagalur yesterday. He was arrested by the police on charges of making inflammatory speech in Belgaum last week. The other reason the pro-Hindu activists cited was 'growing atrocities on Hindu community' in the district.

With all modes of public transport including private and government bus service and autorickshaws were off the roads putting commuters into great hardship. total bandh was called on as almost all shops, commercial establishments and cinema houses were closed down.

In view of the bandh, the district administration had declared a holiday for all colleges and schools in the city and at Bantwal today and tomorrow.

A top police official said that additional police force had been deployed in all sensitive areas in the city and in other places of the district to maintain law and order. The situation was now under control. District police force which was sent to Chikmagalur district to maintain peace in the sensitive Bababudangiri hills where Hindu organizations taking out 'Shobha Yatra'. Additional forces from Shimoga, Haveri and Shimoga districts had been requisitioned to maintain security in the district.

UNI