For a day, City wears serene look!

Central Business District observes undeclared bandh; autos, pvt buses off roads; no untoward incidents reported

The Central Business District (CBD) painted a serene picture with hardly a few activities witnessed at K R Circle, Sayyaji Rao road, D D Urs road, Ashoka Road, Irwin road, Bangalore-Nilgiri road, Dhanwantri road, Chamaraja Double road among several others.

Barring a few eateries and showrooms, the shopkeepers had played it safe by downing shutters on these roads.

Old Santhepet that is usually a beehive of activities didn’t take off since 10 am, the time when business activities start during normal days. The banks had declared a sudden holiday and a board was hung just to inform the same leaving the customers unaware.

Majority of autorickshaws and private buses had also kept off roads with barely a few seen on the roads.  Secretary, Mysore City Film Exhibitors Association, M R Rajaram told Deccan Herald except for two cinema halls, the remaining screened all the four shows.

Those two cinema halls suspended screening of only second show (7.30 pm) following instructions from the distributors of that particular movie. Divisional mechanical engineer, KSRTC, urban division, Srinivas said barring high end volvo and marcopolo buses, the services of which were suspended a hour before the verdict owing to poor response with people not turning up, the remaining buses operated.

Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal said no untoward incidents were reported. However, as a precautionary measure, the security forces haven’t been withdrawn.

The city wore a deserted look especially between 3 and 4 pm, as most were glued to TV waiting for the verdict which was to be delivered at 3.30 pm. Though the TV screens flashed news that the verdict would be out at 4 pm, the people continued to watch with anxiety writ large on their faces. Though it was anticipated that the city may return to normalcy aftermath of the verdict, the shopkeepers didn’t open to a normal evening.

‘Drunken’ cop opens fire, none hurt

A cop attached to Udayagiri police station allegedly opened fire only to hit the ground causing anxious moments for a while, in the city on Tuesday night.

Sridhar, a constable allegedly in an inebriated condition opened fire from his .303 rifle, while on duty along with a home guard, near Quba Masjid. Fortunately, a passerby had a close call just as  the bullet missed him and hit the ground.

When contacted, Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal confirmed the incident and said, according to preliminary investigation it was a case of accidental firing. The cop in question is subjected to medical test and the reports are being awaited for further action.

Ban orders extended till Oct 2

Prohibitory orders have been extended in the city from the midnight of September 30 to  October 2.

According to a release from the office of Police Commissioner on Thursday, the prohibitory orders have been clamped according to section 144 Cr Pc up to 6 am of Oct 2 Gandhi Jayanthi day. Earlier, the ban orders were in force from the midnight of September 29 to 30. There is a ban on the sale of liquor and functioning of bars and restaurants during the extended period.

Also, carrying out any victory processions and observing of black day, bursting fire crackers, possessing arms and explosives and issuing provocative statements are banned. However, the ban orders are not applicable to marriage and death related ceremonies, the release added.