from Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Oct 20: Normal life went out in the State of gear as Hindu right wing organization’s call for the state-wide bundh evoked tremendous response.
 
Except for Mapusa, where police had to resort to caning, entire state remained peaceful.
 
The police vouched for stray incidents of violence including stoning of three buses at Mapusa town in North Goa and arrest of 14 people in different parts of the State.
 
Police resorted to mild caning at Mapusa where mob came face-to-face with the police over closure of a hotel. The hotel owner, responding to the call given by the State government not to adhere to the shut down call, had kept his establishment open which evoked strong reaction from the protestors.

Kadamba transport corporation's shuttle service bus which was attacked my mob

Police charging at the agitators

Tyres were set on fire at Mapusa to disrupt movements of vehicles

Mandir Suraksha Samiti, a Hindu right wing organization, had called for a day-long shut-down on Monday October 20, protesting against the increasing instances of desecration of idols in the state. The organizers had claimed that these instances reflect failure of law and order machinery in the state.
 
The organizations including Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Bajarang Dal actively participated in the shut-down call. The idol desecration has become a contentious issue in the state, with over 500 such desecrations being reported in the recent past.
 
Chief minister Digamber Kamat earlier had said that these desecrations are systematic attempt to temper communal harmony in the state.
 
The main opposition party of the State– Bharatiya Janata Party – had supported the bundh.
 
"The shut-down was 95 per cent successful. Most of the people shut down their shops voluntarily. They were not forced to do it," leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar told reporters at Mapusa.
 
Mapusa, the home town of leader of opposition, which is represented by BJP through a Catholic legislator, Fransic D'Souza, was the troubled spot during entire shut-down call.
 
Three buses run by Kadamba transport corporation Limited (KTCL) were stoned here and situation remained tensed till afternoon. Police had to resort to mild caning to disperse the crowd which went on creating blockages on the road and also aimed to attack a hotel.
 
Agitators were seen pelting stones on the police and few of the protestors were injured during the melee.
 
"There was slight confusion due to misunderstanding between the police officials which led to caning. The issue was sorted out after police explained what exactly happened to the agitators," Parrikar said.
 
According to superintendent of police (North) Bosco George, the major highways of the state remained open for the traffic. "There is no trouble as such but there were minor blockages which are cleared," George said.
 
The capital city of Panaji was totally dead since morning with almost all the shops and establishments not opening for the day.
 
The state government offices were also affected as many could not make it up for the job. The private bus service was off the road. The Kadamba transport corporation had to divert its services on various routes, especially rural Goa, which is usually serviced by private bus operators.