Karnataka bandh: Roads deserted, establishments shut

Bengaluru, Sept 9: Roads look deserted and shutters were down as Karnataka witnessed its second bandh in a week. A bandh was called on Friday to protest the verdict of the Supreme Court which ordered the release of 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

In Mandya, which has been the epicentre of the protest, activists took to the streets and ensured that all establishments were shut.

The protests at Mandya has kept the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway off bounds. There is heavy security deployment in Mandya and the areas around it.

In Bengaluru most shops are shut. Milk booths and vegetable shops were open early on Friday morning. Several people made a quick round to these shops to stock up essential commodities for the day.

In a few areas of the city, people were seen playing in parks. All schools and colleges will shut across the state on Friday.

There are very few vehicles plying on the roads. People have been told to stay off the Hosur road. No vehicles from Tamil Nadu will be allowed into the state. Tamil entertainment channels will not be broadcast on the bandh day.

In the event of the film industry supporting the bandh call, no new movies will be released on Friday. The release of new Kannada movies has been pushed to Saturday.

People have been advised to avoid traveling on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. All vehicular movement towards Hosur has already been stopped. Taxis and auto rickshaws are off the road for the day.

To ensure that there is no untoward incident, the Bengaluru police have deployed 3,551 police personnel, 1,000 Home Guards, 36 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police, 30 platoons of the City Armed Reserve, one company of the Rapid Action Force, a commando vehicle and a water jet truck.

OneIndia News