Sene-sponsored bundh a dud

Life in most parts of the State normal; Belgaum cops close shops

The bundh evoked mixed response in the twin districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. Barring a few incidents of stone-pelting, the day was peaceful. A majority of the private buses did not ply in Mangalore and Udupi, causing inconvenience to the passengers. However, the plying of KSRTC buses were normal.

Most of the shops remained closed in Mangalore and most educational institutions did not function. Though government offices were functioning, attendance was less.

Window panes damaged

Three private buses and 10 KSRTC buses including two Volvos, have been damaged in the stone pelting incidents in late night on Friday and Saturday. The window panes of the house and a car of former minister Vasanth Salian in Kaup was damaged by miscreants.
In Mysore, the bundh did not evoke any response. The life in the city was as usual. All shops and business establishments, educational institutions, banks and government offices remained open. City buses and autorickshaws plied. As a precautionary measure, police had posted pickets at important circles and main roads.

In Shahapur in Gulbarga district, a bus was burnt, but in the rest of the district the bundh was peaceful. Life came to a halt in Belgaum district, and a couple of stray stone pelting incidents were reported.

As many as 76 persons were arrested in connection with the stone-throwing including seven persons for throwing stones at Congress MLA Prakash Hukkeri's residence at Channamma Nagar and seven others attempting to block the National Highway near Channamma Circle. Buses from Maharashtra and Goa avoided service to Belgaum.

‘Police-sponsored’

Some business establishments in the city which were open in defiance of the bandh call were closed down by police. Upset shop owners were heard complaining that the cops seem to be enforcing the bandh.

Saundatti and Athani too observed peaceful bundh. In Bijapur, the bundh was total and peaceful. All shops, hotels, business establishments, cinemas, petty shop keepers, vegetable and fruit vendors, had voluntarily closed their businesses. Attendance in schools and colleges was thin.

The bundh call received no response in Hubli-Dharwad, as business went on as usual. However, the State-owned transport corporation had withdrawn the services for three hours in the morning.

Schools and colleges were open as usual. In Bellary, the bundh received mixed response.
Police arrested around 35 men as a precautionary measure and released them later.
While the bundh received mixed response in Bidar, it received lukewarm response in Raichur. The bundh also did not receive any response in Gadag and Haveri.