Update: Oct 12 - 7-30 am
A Big Sigh of Relief as Curfew Goes off
- Section 144 stays, Citizens should ensure causes don't recur
Mangalore, Oct 12: Finally the curfew is off. Vehicles are seen moving on the streets as before. People are seen getting into their normal life, with a sense of relief writ large on their face.
Daijiworld spoke a few people on the subject in the morning. Everyone says the the citizens are in a chastised state. Now it is everyone's duty to see that the past mistakes are not repeated.
They will never support bundhs in future, they said. Asked how they will oppose muscle power demanding closure of shops etc., they said it was the duty of the law-enforcing authorities to see that the citizens are not harassed.
Another said it was a good experience the ill-effects of a bundh had come into full focus and everyone would seriously think in terms of stopping all bundhs in future.
In the meantime, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and deputy CM B S Yadiyurappa arrived in the city by a special flight on Wednesday night. They visited the injured persons who are under treatment in different hospitals.
No more Curfew After 7 am on Oct 12 - Section 144 to Continue
- Mangalore's suffering winds up by 7 am on Wednesday
Updated at 8.15 pm, IST (Oct 11, 2006)
Oct 11: The people of Mangalore and surrounding areas can now have peaceful sleep, for the night of Oct 11 will be the last night with the curfew, at least for the time being. The district police and the district administration have decided to lift the curfew at 7 am on Oct 11. However, Section 144 will be on for a few days.
Speaking to Daijiworld, SP B Dayananda said that the curfew will be lifted at 7 am once and for all, but the Section 144 will continue as a precautionary measure.
Just like Tuesday, the ‘push button phenomenon’ repeated in Mangalore. As 7 pm was nearing people made their way to their houses. For Mangalore it was like the push button activated at 6.30 pm itself, when the rush began.
Traffic jams were seen at every circle and the traffic police had to put in a great deal of effort to ease it. That the number of buses plying on the roads was inadequate was evident as people travelled even on bus tops (a rare sight in Mangalore). And the police, understanding the situation, did not object to it.
Wednesday went on as another day for Mangalore. The element of fear was less and people carried on with life as usual. Police presence was felt on every major road of the city and around.
Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is expected in the city by a special flight which will land in Bajpe airport late at night.
Updated 2-45 pm - Pics Dayanand Kukkaje
Mangalore: SP Dayananda Saved 'Piece' Meeting with Toughspeak
Oct 11: As a sidelight of the trouble that created agony for the citizens here, mention must be made of an all party and all community peace meeting organized by the district administration on Tuesday, October 10. It was attended by district minister-in-charge B Nagaraj Shetty, deputy commissioner Maheshwar Rao, SP Dayananda, city mayor Ashraf and others on the dais, leaders of various political parties and communities and representatives of several organizations
Dakshina Kannada district's superintendent of police B Dayananda, upon taking charge here just over a year ago, had assured the public that law and order will be strictly maintained during his tenure. Some months ago, he launched the country's very first police blog on the Internet, which was soon followed by the Udupi SP.
In an interview to Daijiworld sometime ago, he had also pointed out that for peaceful and harmonious existence, public cooperation and awareness about respecting the law of the land was important as well. .
Trouble arose when an NGO representative took objection to the mayor's sitting on the dais since, he alleged, he was involved in the stone-pelting incident in front of the Mukhyaprana Temple during the disturbances. Immediately the mayor's partymen and supporters raised a hue and cry over it.
Allegations and counter-allegations started flinging from one end to the other. The people who had gathered with the sole intention of restoring peace in the city could not remain in peace within the hall. Slogans were shouted against the mayor and the minister.
As the situation was getting out of hand, DC Maheshwar Rao and minister Nagaraj Shetty got up to silence them. But perhaps the SP literally had the final word. He got down from the dais, took the microphone in his hand and told the persons who were shouting at each other in a raised voice and a stern tone.
The gist of his plainspeak was that the organizers would decide who should and who should not be at the meeting. Those who wanted to fight could go to the streets and he and his force would take care of it. Those who did not want to sit in peace could as well go out of the hall, he cautioned. He also told the so-called leaders to control their supporters, perhaps with a hidden mesage that if they could not control their own supporters, they could not be considered leaders at all.
The citizens of Mangalore, a large majority of whom have now made it a fine art of violating traffic rules like signal jumping, passenger overloading and speeding, seem to have realized the post-curfew effects of the police might. With the SP's warning, everything settled down, and appreciative responses like 'Very good, very good' were heard from some of those who had gathered.
If this is the kind of community and political leaders we have, even God may not be interested in saving our city, commented an elderly man who watched the entire proceedings not only in stoic silence, but disgust and frustration as well.
Mangalore Bundh and Violence - Complete Coverage with Photo Albums
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