3 BMTC buses torched, cops see conspiracy

Fuelling rage: Protest paralyses City as basic services remain suspended

The bandh had its desired effect in Bangalo­r­e, primarily because BMTC buses stayed off roads till late afternoon. Three BMTC buses were torched during the bandh. 

Unidentified miscreants, who came in a car and two motorbikes, dragged out driver Mohammed Hanif, who was sleeping in the bus parked at Roopena Agrahara, assaulted him and set the bus (KA 01 F 8685) on fire at 3:45 am on Thursday. Hanif told the police that there were about six men in the group. By the time the fire was put out, the bus was completely gutted. 

In another incident at about the same time, two buses were torched in KR Puram. The first bus (KA 01 FA 165) was parked in front of the KR Puram market and the other bus (KA 01 FA 831) was parked in front of the KR Puram ITI. Police suspect it to be the handiwork of the same group.

L Sriramappa, the driver, was sleeping in the second bus and jumped out when he felt the heat. A case has been registered at the KR Puram police station. Apart from the torching of the three buses, stones were pelted at about 15 buses on Bannerghatta Road, Magadi Road and other parts of the City. 

Senior police officers told Deccan Herald that the torching of buses indicates a conspiracy to keep buses off roads and inconvenience the public. 

High Court not spared

The functioning of the High Court was partially affected by the nation-wide bandh call. Only a few advocates were seen on the Court premises, reminding one the recently concluded vacation to the courts.

Most of the cases were adjourned since the advocates representing them did not appear. However, some of the courtrooms witnessed marathon hearing on issues like Comed-K and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s anticipatory bail plea with a packed audience. The usually bustling parking lot on the court premises wore a deserted look . 

Hunger pangs 

Thursday was a difficult day for those depending on hotels and restaurants for their daily bread. 

An employee with a private company, Mohan Kumar visited his regular eating joint. Only on seeing the downed shutters, he realised that it was a bandh. 

A restaurant owner in Koramangala said: “I receive as many as 250 customers a day.

The bandh has caused huge loss to my business. Protest against the hike in petrol prices is fine. But again, it is the common man who bears the brunt of the bandh,” he added.