The Hindu : Weavers turn violent in Bangalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Weavers turn violent in Bangalore

By Our Staff Reporter

Police chasing away protesting weavers in Bangalore on Thursday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE APRIL 17. Police resorted to lathicharge, lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets at groups of protesting weavers here today.

Several persons, including three policemen and a photographer, were injured in the violence while about half a dozen vehicles were damaged in stone throwing. The weavers, who gathered at Banappa Park around 10.30 a.m. to protest against the levy of 10 per cent excise duty on their products, blocked traffic at Mysore Bank Circle for about an hour. Police persuaded them to lift the blockade and go ahead with the procession for which permission had been given.

The weavers again blocked roads at Hudson Circle for two hours. Following pleas from the police, leaders of the weavers proceeded in a procession to the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

But some of the weavers remained at Hudson Circle, demanding that the Minister concerned arrive at the spot and listen to their problems. They did not heed to pleas from senior police officers that this could not be arranged immediately. The group became restive and threw stones at buses and other vehicles passing by. When police caned them, the weavers ran away to Lalbagh Road, throwing stones at the nearby buildings.

They took soft drink bottles from a roadside shop and hurled them at policemen.

They looted a petty shop near a restaurant. The shopkeeper said the miscreants took away cash box and looted articles worth Rs. 2,000.

The police lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets at the violent mob, following which the demonstrators fled the scene.

Meanwhile, groups of protesters staged demonstrations at the circle near the Mahatma Gandhi statue and at Siddalingaiah Circle. Some protesters, who entered Cubbon Park, were chased and caned by the police.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central), Gopal B. Hosur, said several persons were arrested following the violence.He said the weavers had to be lathicharged as they did not yield to police officers' pleas to allow movement of vehicles.

Earlier, the weavers, who closed down handlooms and powerlooms in the State for the past 10 days in protest against the Centre's decision to impose excise duty on their products, planned a rally today followed by a public meeting. They alleged that they had been burdened with recent increase in power tariff and the levy of excise duty would lead to closure of their units.

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