VHP bandh evoks mixed reponse in K'taka

Bangalore, Jul 3(UNI) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad sponsored 'Bharat Bandh' called to protest the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Land issue in Jammu and Kashmir today evoked mixed response in Karnataka.

Barring minor incidents of stone throwing the situation was peaceful. Normal life was not affected, though buses were off the roads in some parts of the state. Train services were not affected in the entire state.

Due to withdrawal of bus service students attending Pre-University examinations were put to hardship. A group of 50 students who went late to the examination hall were sent back by the authorities in Kolar town.

The bandh was near total in BJP strongholds like the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi apart from Mysore, Davangere, Chitradurga and Belgaum. However, it evoked poor response mainly in Hyderabad-Karnatak region like Gulbarga, Raichur and Bidar districts.

In Bangalore the bandh call received mixed response. While most of the business establishments were closed in some areas it had no effect in down town, Cantonment and business districts. The BMTC city bus service plied normal, while a majority of schools were open.

Director General of Police R Sri Kumar told UNI that no untoward incidents were reported from any part of the state. Elaborate security arrangements had been made to maintain peace, he said.

MORE UNI TEAM-RS SR RKN1411