Bengaluru, Sep 9 (DHNS): The statewide bandh call given by various pro-Kannada organisations crippled life in Bengaluru on Friday shutting down public transport, establishments and educational institutions.

Thousands have been stranded at Bengaluru international airport. All modes of public transport including BMTC, KSRTC, Namma Metro, autorickshaws, airport cabs and cab aggregators have stayed off road.

IT giants Wipro, Infosys and about 400 multinationals have declared a holiday. Bank services , Petrol bunks, malls and hotels also remain shut.

All the major markets in the city including KR Market, Yeshwantpur Market and Kalasipalyam Market remain closed.

As many as 60,000 policemen along with Central Paramilitary Force personnel have been deployed. Two companies of Central police force have been called from Kerala, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said security measures have been stepped up in the Cauvery basin districts and Hubballi.

Earlier report

Mangaluru: Holiday for schools, colleges - bandh not to affect coast

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Sep 9: The state-wide bandh called for by pro-Kannada organizations on Friday September 9 over the Supreme Court order to release water to Tami Nadu most probably will not have any affect in coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada. While schools and colleges have been given holiday by the government, other businesses will be as usual, organizations said.

Bus owners organizations and Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) said that movement of buses all over the twin-districts will be normal on Friday. President of Canara Bus Owners Association, Rajavarma Ballal, confirmed that buses will move around as usual, as no organizations here have pledged support to the bandh call. Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association president, Aziz Parthipady, said that buses will ply normally as otherwise people, who are busy with Ganeshotsav and other festivals will be adversely affected. Udupi City Bus Owners Association president, Kuilady Suresh Nayak, also said that city buses will serve as usual on Friday.

KSRTC sources however said that a decision about plying buses moving to centres outside the district will be taken after reviewing the situation on Friday.

Mangaluru city police commissioner, Chandra Sekhar said that security arrangements have been strengthened in the city limits and in case of unwanted activities, stern action will be taken.

In a release, Harikrishna Bantwal, who is associated with 'Save Netravati' movement, said that the government has not lent an ear to the pleas of the people from coast to shelve Yettinahole project since the last three years, as the people here feel that it would convert the coast into a barren land. Therefore, he said it would be wrong for the government and other organizations to expect sympathy for their cause from coastal people.

Udupi district BJP president, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, said that his party is supporting the bandh call and that a procession is being taken from Jodukatte to bus stand in Udupi at 10.30 am on Friday.