Mangalore: Bharat Bandh Successful – Normal Life Crippled
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SB)
Update at 8.00pm, IST
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Mangalore, Jul 5: The dawn-to-dusk all India shutdown, following the opposition call for a nationwide stir against rising fuel prices on Monday July 5 with private and public transport services including autorickshaws, taxis, private buses and state-run buses keeping off roads, was near total and peaceful with stray incidents of burning of tyres in certain areas in the twin districts.
The bustling city came to a standstill with schools, colleges, private offices and commercial establishments voluntarily choosing to close down for the day. A few who ventured into work found it difficult to even find a decent place to have lunch. The state government offices and banks were deserted with few employees and lesser customers.
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The inter-district bus services between Dakshina Kannada and Kasargod remained suspended. The impact of the shutdown was worse at the railway stations and bus stands with hundreds of passengers, who arrived from outer districts were left stranded in the absence of transportation early on in the morning.
However, essential services such as milk supply and medical stores were exempt from the shutdown. Yet many of the medical shops chose to down their shutters until the evening.
Roads were deserted with shopping complexes, malls and cinema theatres too were shut. Police vans and jeeps parked a strategic spots in the city, ambulances and few two-wheelers and private four-wheelers were the only ones that were witnessed occasionally on roads.
Mangalore: Bandh Remains Peaceful – Commuters, Pilgrims Face Problems
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Updates at 1.00pm, IST
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Mangalore, Jul 5: The response to the bandh call in the twin-districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada has been near total. Public transport vehicles have not been plying, and absence of auto rickshaws has come as an impediment for those who have to reach their destinations urgently to attend auspicious occasions or emergencies.
While most of the people had advance knowledge of what was to come, people on a visit to the districts from far off places have been caught off guard, as they had planned their visits sufficiently in advance. Some construction workers and coolies were seen waiting at some of the bus stops, waiting for a chance to get something to do and earn for the day.
Many establishments had displayed notices in their premises on Sunday itself, about the impending bandh on Monday. Still, small crowds of hopefuls were seen at a few bus stands and junctions, waiting with a hope that one of the vehicles will give them a lift. Banks, post offices and government offices have reported very thin attendance. However, their functioning has not been impaired, as there is a dearth of customers too.
Mangalore: District Responds Wholeheartedly to Nationwide Bandh Call
Pics by Spoorthy Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jul 5: A nationwide bandh call has been given for Monday July 5 by almost all the political parties from both the right wing and the left except UPA, in protest against the increase in the prices of petroleum products. The district woke up today to empty streets, scarce movement of people, and closed shutters.
Buses including the school vehicles are off the roads. Their engines did not come to life early morning today. City-based software companies have decided to operate with a skeletal staff, with Infosys asking most of its employees to work on a Saturday to compensate for today’s holiday. Schools and colleges have remained closed, and medical shops, which have been given exemption from the bandh call, were seen operating with partially opened doors.
Various labour organizations, organizations of vehicle owners and drivers etc., have extended support to the bandh call. General secretary of Dakshina Kannada City Bus Owners Association, Aziz Partippady, said that it has been decided against running of the buses in view of the fact that the number of passengers will be very less. Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association president, Bhaskar Salian, did not deny the possibility of the operations of some of the buses resuming by 6 pm today.
Both Dakshina Kannada district police and the city police commissionerate have geared up to maintain law and order in the district, with the help of vehicles, platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and home guards that have been especially been summoned for the purpose, said district superintendent of police, Dr A Subrahmanyeshwar Rao. Police commissioner, Seemant Kumar Singh, also said that the commissionerate has borrowered services of KSRP platoons, 50 vehicles and 200 home guards.
MLA Raghupati Bhat has requested the people to voluntarily support the bandh. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has requested the people to extend their support to the call for a peaceful bandh. Udupi district police department too has braced itself up for the challenge of maintaining law and order during the bandh period.