Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Oct 10: Following the murder of flower vendor and Bajrang Dal activist Prashant Poojary by a gang of six on Friday October 9 in Moodbidri, most of the residents condemned the incident by observing a voluntary bandh on Saturday October 10.
Prashant was allegedly killed on Friday morning at about 7.30 am and a bandh was observed soon afterwards. By evening, the situation turned tense as some activists pelted stones and damaged shops, and police had to resort to lathi charge.
There was confusion among people regarding the bandh on October 10. However, most of the buses stayed off the roads since Saturday morning. Later, a group of youths also blocked school and college buses and forcibly shut down some shops.
With this, the entire Moodbidri town and outskirts remained deserted and normal life was hit severely.
BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishat leaders, however, said that they did not call for the bandh. "The banth was observed by the people on their own accord condemning the murder of Prashant. We regret for the confusion and damage to property on Friday," they said.