Life normal, business as usual in Kittur Karnataka districts

Karnataka Bandh evoked little response in Kittur district with life going on as usual. Schools, public transport, shops, commercial establishments operated normally. Protests were restricted to demonstrations at traffic junctions. In Hubballi, Dharwad, Haveri, Gadag, Belagavi, Bagalkot & Vijayapura, protestors staged protests, burnt portraits & poured alcohol on images of CM & Dy CM. Police made special security arrangements for Ganesha idol immersion.

The call for Karnataka Bandh evoked little response in the districts of Kittur Karnataka on Friday with life going on as usual. The bandh was restricted to demonstrations of different kinds at traffic junctions.

As there was no holiday declared for schools and colleges, public transport buses and autorickshaws operated like on a normal day and students attended classes without any hindrance.

Sources from various schools confirmed that they did not see any dip in attendance on Friday.

In Hubballi and Dharwad, services of public transport, autorickshaws and private buses remained unaffected and shops and commercial establishments operated as usual. The only exception was that of shops owned by Marwadi traders, which remained shut.

At Kittur Rani Chennamma Circle, various pro-Kannada and farmers organisations staged demonstrations carrying empty plastic pots and water bottles to signify that the State did not have water to give it to others.

The protestors staged a dharna, raised slogans and had their breakfast sitting in front of the equestrian statue of Kittur Rani Chennamma. They symbolically stopped BRTS bus and when they tried to stop other buses and prolong their protest, they were taken into preventive custody and released later.

In Dharwad, protestors staged a similar protest, which was restricted to demonstrations. In both the cities, the police personnel outnumbered the protestors.