Traffic hit as cops close roads during BJP-RSS protest

Vehicular movement was severly affected in many parts of the central business district on Monday as the BJP and RSS members took out a rally in Shivajinagar seeking immediate arrest of those who had hacked the RSS worker Rudresh to death on Kamaraj Road on Sunday.

The police closed all roads leading to Shivajinagar to ensure law and order. The closure of roads had cascading effect on the vehicular movement on Cubbon Road, Queen’s Road, Kamaraj Road, M G Road, Balekundri Circle, Police Thimmaiah Circle, Raj Bhavan Road, K R Circle and Chalukya Circle. There was heavy congestion at City Market, Hudson Circle and on J C Road, Kasturba Road, Richmond Town, Residency Road. 

“Vehicular movement was affected around 9.30 am as hundreds of BJP workers rushed to Shivajinagar in private vehicles. Many of them, including former minister Aravind Limbavali, failed to reach the protest venue on time due to traffic jams,” said a police officer.  “It was the first day of the week and hence there were more vehicles on road. The police deployed additional men and regulated traffic. Situation was back to normal by around 1 pm,” he said.

Commuters were put to hardship as the BMTC temporarily suspended services to some destinations on police advice. Passengers had to alight at Queen’s Circle, Cubbon Road and Traffic Management Centre junction and walk to their destinations. Many areas in and around Shivajinagar, including Commercial Street wore a deserted look as most business establishments remained closed on Monday. The police had deployed additional forces in Shivajinagar, Commercial Street, Bharathinagar and Pulikeshinagar areas. More than 30 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 20 platoons of City Armed Reserve, six platoons of Rapid Action Force, two platoons of Sashastra Seema Bal and one platoon of Central Industrial Security Force were deployed. 

Additional forces were posted at Victoria Hospital where the post mortem of Rudresh’s body was conducted.