Bandh total in Kodagu

The bandh called by various organisations and parties on Thursday, urging to hand over DySP Ganapathi suicide case to CBI, was peaceful but total, with the people venting their ire against the state government.

Protest meets were held in Kushalnagar, Virajpet, Gonikoppa, Balele, Siddapur and Shanivarasanthe. Tyres were burnt in many places. KSRTC buses, private vehicles and autorickshaws remained off the road. Holiday was declared at private schools and colleges.

As there was no transport facility, the government schoolchildren too did not attend classes. The protesters forcibly closed down banks branches and other government offices. Only hospitals, medical shops and petrol bunks were open.

The II PU supplementary examination was held in the three centres of the district, between 9.45 am and 12.45 pm. KSRTC buses were parked at the depot near Field Marshall Cariappa Circle.

State highway blocked

Protesters led by BJP, Hindu Jagarana Vedike, Vishwa Hindu Parishat and Kodava Samaja, formed a human chain at General K S Thimmaiah Circle amidst rain. Also, the Mysuru-Bengaluru state highway was blocked by the protesters. As a result, the vehicles had to return. The goods transportation lorries lined up along the roadside during the whole day.

In Madikeri, protesters took out a mock funeral procession of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and minister K J George. Later, they beat the effigies with sandals and used foul language as abuses.

Workers of various pro-Hindu organisations took out a bike rally from the residence of M K Ganapathi in Rangasamudra and demanded the arrest of George. Addressing the protest, MP Pratap Simha said that the issue will be taken to a logical end.

The tourists, who had come to the district, were unaware of the situation and struggled to go back. They had to wait in the private hotels and homestays. There were no visitors in tourist spots. The situation turned to normalcy after evening. Police vigil was tightened.