3-day ban on assembly of people in violence-hit Bengaluru

Bengaluru, April 20: Police on Tuesday night issued prohibitory orders banning assembly of more than 10 people across Bengaluru for three days from Wednesday after protests by garment workers turned violent.

"The prohibitory order banning assembly of more than 10 people in an area will come into force from midnight in the entire city to maintain peace and to prevent any untoward incident," city police commissioner N.S. Megharikh told reporters here.

The decision to impose the ban was taken at a high-level meeting of top police officials, including Director General of Police Om Prakash, by state Home Minister G. Parameshwra to restore normalcy in the aftermath of violence and arson that rocked the city's southern and northern suburbs since Monday.

Thousands of garment workers, mostly women, staged protests against curbs on withdrawal of provident fund (PF) before attaining the age of 58 years, especially the amount contributed by the employer with government interest.

"We have taken about 120 people into custody for indulging in arson and violence, attacking our personnel deployed for protection of agitators and damaging public property, including state-run buses and our vehicles," Magherikh said.

According to police estimates, a record one lakh workforce from other factories and firms across the city assembled at Bommanahalli industrial area in the south and Peenya industrial area in the north to demonstrate against the PF withdrawal norms.

"In all, 95 buses were damaged, of which 11 were fully burnt. While about 40 people were injured, 65 policemen were injured in mob attacks on them when tear gas shells were lobbed, and they were caned and chased away for blocking roads," Megharikh added.

IANS