Karnataka braces for bandh on Mar 22 security tightened statewide
Bengaluru, Mar 21 (PTI): Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place across Karnataka as pro-Kannada groups have called for a 12-hour statewide shutdown on March 22 to protest the alleged assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not knowing Marathi.
According to officials, police in various districts have deployed home guards along with the City Armed Reserve unit as a precautionary measure to ensure that the bandh is observed peacefully without causing inconvenience to the public.
Senior officers will also be on the ground to oversee security arrangements and prevent any untoward incidents.
Speaking to reporters, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged people to maintain peace and abide by the law.
"We will protect the interests of the state. Everyone should maintain peace and follow the law. However, I feel there is no need for a bandh," he said.
According to Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G, no holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city on Saturday despite the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits.
However, with transport services likely to be disrupted, the bandh is expected to impact lakhs of SSLC (class 10) students appearing for their exams tomorrow.
State-run transport corporations, KSRTC and BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation), will remain operational.
However, a final decision will be taken tomorrow based on the situation on the ground, a senior transport department official said.
Sources indicate that some auto-rickshaw, cab, and private driver unions have extended their support to the bandh, while hotel associations, malls, bars, and restaurants have only offered "moral support".
Meanwhile, essential services—including pharmacies, hospitals, ambulances, petrol pumps, and metro services—will remain operational despite the bandh.
According to Kannada Okkuta leader and activist Vatal Nagaraj, the statewide bandh is expected to receive widespread support, though there are uncertainties regarding the participation of some organisations.
On February 28, Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation representing various pro-Kannada groups, announced the statewide bandh from 6 am to 6 pm on March 22.
Notably, prominent pro-Kannada groups—including the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike factions led by T A Narayana Gowda and Praveen Shetty—have refrained from participating in the bandh.
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Bengaluru: 1 dead, 3 others injured as 100-foot-tall temple chariot falls during festival
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Bengaluru: 24-year-old devotee killed, three others injured as 100-foot-tall temple chariot falls during festival
Bengaluru: A 24-year-old youngster was killed and three others sustained injuries as the chariot of 100-foot height collapsed during the annual festival of the historic Madduramma temple in Anekal taluk of Bengaluru Rural district on Saturday.
The deceased devotee is identified as Lohith, a resident of Hosur in Tamil Nadu. A 16-year-old girl is reported to be critically injured. Two other injured devotees are stable although still under treatment, police have said.
The devotees were pulling two chariots, at Chikka Nagamangala and at Rayasandra in Parappana Agrahara, towards the temple. The chariot at Chikka Nagamangala fell damaging several vehicles parked nearby. The devotees, who were also handling the ropes, escaped danger by rushing for safety.
The second 100-foot chariot toppled next, at Rayasandra. Police officers have said that the chariot toppled because of miscalculations due to bad weather, including heavy rain and strong winds in the area on Saturday.
Event organizer Rakesh, who is a resident of Hoskur, has said that this is the first case of the chariot collapsing in the 100-year history of the Madduramma Temple.
Hebbagodi Police have taken up both cases and have registered a case of death due to negligence against the organizers of the temple event. The police have stated that the organizers failed to follow necessary safety measures while pulling the chariots.
