Violence mars Kolar bundh

3 buses, 2 autos stoned, college student injured

District SP K P Puttaswamy had held discussions with the Bescom officials on Thursday and assured the forum that their demands would be met and the protesters had agreed to hold peaceful protest. However the protest turned violent as protesters stoned 3 buses and 2 autos and a college girl, BBM student , was injured at Bangarpet Circle.
At Mekke CIrcle autos that were attempting to take commuters were stoned.

The protesters went around on motorbikes from 7.30 am and cautioned all the shop owners to close their shutters. School and college students were made to return home. Only some schools and colleges had declared holiday as a precautionary measure. Students had a  tough time unable to get transport. The government buses did not ply and the bus stand wore a deserted look, except police jeeps.  Some people were seen sleeping at the bus stand.

Traffic jam
All vehicles entering into Kolar were halted at the railway track circle in the outskirts of the city near NH 4. As a result traffic jam put commuters to greater hardship.
Police had a tough time controlling vehicles coming from Chittor, Chennai, Kuppam, going towards Bangalore. Near Bangarpet road opposite to regional transport office miscrients stoned buses and 2 autos.

Protesters gheraoed Bescom office and submitted a memorandum with demands including 8 hours of uninterrupted power supply in 3 phases.
Bescom officials Gopal and Nagaraj assured the protesters that on Saturday KPTCL officials would be arriving at Kolar and after discussions with them the problem would be resolved.

DYAF, Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, CPM, district Krishik Samaj and various other organisations supported the bundh by their huge presence.
Heavy security measures were taken by the police and more than 350 police including State Reserve police, district armed reserve force and additional personnel from KGF, Chikkaballapur were on duty to prevent any ontoward incidents.