JOIN USThe Karnataka bandh call given by various organisations passed off peacefully in Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar districts.
Protesting against the decision of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) to release water to Tamil Nadu, various organisations took out rallies in the three districts.
While business establishments downed shutters in support of the bandh, bus services were stopped by both KSRTC and private operators.
Mandya
In Mandya, Karnataka bandh resulted in sparse traffic on the road and received complete support of the public.
In a dramatic incident, Vishwanath, a resident of Shadanahalli, Pandavapura taluk, who participated in the hunger strike near Visvesvaraya statue tried to commit suicide, but was saved by people around.
Trains, autorickshaws, private and KSRTC buses remained off roads. All shops, including medical stores, theatres, petrol bunks, etc were shut down. The bandh was successful in all taluks and hoblis of the district.
Agitators increased
The number of agitators increased as the news spread that 23,704 cusecs of water was released from Friday night to Saturday morning. More than 40 organisations participated in the hunger strike.
President of the Jilla Raitha Hitharakshana Samithi G Madegowda urged the protestors to maintain peace and pressurise the governments by intensifying protests.
Chamarajanagar
In Chamarajanagar, the bandh passed off peacefully. Hotels, shops and medical stores were closed.
Roads near Chikkaangadi, Doddaangadi beedhi, double road, deviation road, which usually have dense traffic wore a deserted look on Saturday. Schools, colleges, banks downed shutters for the day.
While hospitals functioned as usual, medical stores remained closed owing to the support extended by chemists’ associations. Protestors burnt tyres near Santhemarahalli Circle, Gundlupet Circle and Bhuvenshwari Circle.
A KSRTC bus heading from Mysore to Chamarajanagar was stopped. Later, a passenger train heading to Mysore was also stopped.
Attendance was muted in government offices as a majority of the staff commute from neighbouring districts, including Mysore.
Hassan
In Hassan, the bandh was total in city, taluk and all hoblis. Activists of various organisations burnt tyres on roads, affecting vehicular traffic near N R Circle, Salagame road, Ring road, Bypass road, Old Bus Stand, opposite Hemavathi statue, Tanneruhalla and other places. The raitha santhe usually held on Saturday was also cancelled. No incidents of violence was reported in the district.