Barring stray incidents of violence in which public transport buses were targeted in Bangalore, the nationwide bandh called on Thursday in protest against the hike in petrol price was near-total and peaceful across Karnataka.
Life was thrown out of gear as business establishments downed shutters, public transport was off the road, educational institutions were closed and the attendance at many offices was thin. Roads wore a deserted look.
The bandh was called by the NDA, the Left and other outfits.
Services suspended
In Bangalore, ahead of the dawn-to-dusk bandh, miscreants set on fire three Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses at different places early on Thursday, while 11 other buses were damaged in stone-throwing. The BMTC authorities put the total damage around Rs. 45 lakh.
Following the violent incidents, BMTC and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) suspended services around 7.30 a.m.
“We did not want to put the lives of our commuters and staff at risk. The police also advised us to stop operations,” a senior BMTC official told The Hindu.
With State transport corporations deciding not to ply buses and a majority of autorickhaws keeping off the road, commuting in the city was severely affected. Hapless commuters, who arrived here after a tiring overnight journey, either had to walk to their destination or were fleeced by auto drivers.
Bus services resumed only around 3 p.m. and normality was restored by around 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, rallies and processions were reported in various parts of the State, including Bangalore, Bellary, Gulbarga, Davangere, Hassan, Tumkur, Mysore, hubli and other places, while there were reports of forcible closure of shops in Hassan, Mandya, Gulbarga and other towns.
To work on Saturday
Several information technology (IT) companies in Bangalore declared holiday, but asked employees to report to work on Saturday, which is generally a closed holiday for most of these companies.
Although banks had not declared holiday, bandh supporters forced their closure at some branches.
While the number of advocates attending the sessions had seen a decline, courts in Bangalore city functioned normally, although the lawyers' attendance was not in the usual numbers.
