Condemning the stand taken by Goa state Congress over the Mahadayi river water sharing dispute, BJP workers called for a bundh in Nargund, Gadag district, on Wednesday.
The activists staged a protest by blocking the highway and burning tires. They forced shops to shut down.
Due to the roadblock, free flow of traffic on Hubballi-Vijayapura national highway was totally disrupted.
Tight police security has been delpoyed in Nargund town. Three DySPs, 10 CPIs, 14 PSIs, 29 ASIs, four KSRP platoons, five DAR platoons, 120 police staff and 100 Homeguards are on vigil.
When the BJP workers tried to light up tires, the police tried to stop them. At this point there was an argument between the police and the protesters. But the latter went ahead and burnt tires and shouted slogans against the Congress, anyway.
"The BJP is trying to settle the Mahadayi water dispute. Meanwhile the Congress is acting against the settlement. The Nargund bundh has been called to protest this issue," said BJP Nargund mandal president Mallappa Meti.
As part of the bundh a protest march will be taken out in the main streets of the town to end at Raitha Veeragallu, he added.
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