Mangalore : 'Forced Bandh' Disrupts Normal Life - Section 144 in Ullal
Pics: Sphoorty Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Feb 13: The Karnataka bandh called by Sri Rama Sene (SRS), in protest against the attack on SRS Supremo, Pramod Mutalik, on Saturday February 13, is turning violent in some places of the state. In Mangalore and Udupi districts, the policemen have been keeping a strict vigil, in an attempt to minimize damages.
In the early hours on Saturday, the house of former Central Minister, Oscar Fernandes, was attacked, allegedly by the Sri Rama Sene activists, damaging the window glasses in the bargain. No one was at home during this attack. Simultaneous attack was also carried out on the residence of former state minister, Vasant V Salian's house at Kaup. A Scorpio van and window panes of the house were damaged due to stone pelting in this case.
Since the time an attack on Mutalik in Bangalore was carried out, allegedly by the Youth Congress leaders, SRS members have been targetting Congress Party offices, houses of their leaders, statues etc., at different parts of the state. The miscreants also have been targetting public transport at several places, including Udupi and Mangalore. At least ten buses were damaged in Udupi, Kulur, Kavoor, and other places around Mangalore.
CM Angry:
Chief Minister, Yeddyurappa has reacted angrily to the bandh called by Sri Rama Sene. "This bandh has been called by the people, who are unable to tolerate the development of the state. I have ordered the policemen to handle the trouble makers in the strictest possible manner, and that no one, who disrupts peace in the state, should be spared," he added.
'Silly Incident? '
It is ironical, that Pramod Mutalik, who described the pub attack incident in Mangalore during January 2009 as a 'silly incident’ and claimed that the people were taking it seriously and making a big issue out of it, and that some people had been blowing the incident out of proportions, has failed to brand the present incident as silly. The leader has now sought to describe the present incident as a major incident, terming it as an attack on democracy. The national television channel, 'Times Now', was seen telecasting Mutalik's earlier statement repeatedly, and this has made the intellectuals of the country to analyze the double standards being followed by Mutalik.
"If the pub attack was a small incident according to Mutalik, then why is he forcing a bandh on the people of the state, thus inflicting problems and losses on the people and the state government ?' a senior journalist commented, questioning the quality of Mutalik’s leadership.
'Forced Bundh'
It has been reported that today's bandh around the state is being forced on the people, and since this morning, Sri Rama Sene members are seen forcing the buses, other public transports, schools, and other establishment to stop operations. Several shops around Mangalore and Udupi were closed down forcefully. Though people are reluctant to support the bandh call, the intimidatory attitude of the Sri Rama Sene members has contributed to disruption in normal life around the twin districts.
Section 144 in Ullal:
On Saturday, three city buses were damaged in different stone pelting incidents at Pumpwell and Kavoor in the city. At Kavoor, two bike-borne youths threw stones at the bus. In all these incidents, no one was injured, but the windshields of the buses were shattered. The police could arrest one of the two miscreants involved in the stone pelting incident at Kavoor. Allegedly some people broke coconuts in front of the Kudroly mosque on Friday night, and the car of Muslim leader, Rafiuddin Kudroly, was attacked, shattering its windshield. At present, no private buses, either service or city, are moving in the city. Private vehicles however, continue to move about normally. Government buses are seen operating normally.
Additional policemen have been deployed in Ullal, because of heightened tensions there, after children Shahil (9) and Shadiya (11), were attacked and their father, Badruddin was injured with a sword by some assailants. In this incident, three people have been taken into custody for questioning. Prohibitory orders have been issued within Ullal limits till Monday February 15 afternoon. At the same time, policemen have been posted near the residences of important Congress leaders in and around the city, taking a cue from the attacks on the houses of Congress leaders elsewhere in the state. Policemen have also been guarding sensitive areas in the twin-districts.
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