The Hindu : Karnataka News : Violence during bandh in some areas; shops looted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 19, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Violence during bandh in some areas; shops looted

Special Correspondent

Protest against desecration of Ambedkar statue

BANGALORE: Several towns and cities in the Mumbai Karnataka region of the State observed a "bandh" on Monday in response to a call given by Dalit organisations in protest against the desecration of the statue of B.R. Ambedkar at Nipani in Belgaum District on the day of his birth anniversary (April 14).

The "bandh" turned violent at some places as the Dalit activists forced shopkeepers to close their establishments and threw stones at passing vehicles.

Shopkeepers downed their shutters fearing violence. Life was disturbed particularly because the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation withdrew its services.

Even the autorickshaws were off the road in several places.

The city worst affected by the "bandh" and the violence was Hubli where the police were forced to resort to lathicharge on Dalit activists at some places. There were cases of looting of shops in Hubli.

Cases of vehicles, especially buses belonging to the North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation being stoned were reported from Dharwad.

In Hubli

In Hubli, there were cases of government offices being stoned. Shopkeepers at several places complained of police inaction when the Dalit activists went on the rampage. There was also a case of a police constable being beaten up by the Dalit activists.

Vehicles damaged

The "bandh" was total in Belgaum and there were reports of vehicles being damaged. The people most inconvenienced were degree students who were going to examinations. They had to trek long distances as the buses were off the road and even the autorickshwas were not available.

The Congress MLA from Belgaum, Ramesh Kudachi; the Mayor, Vandana Belgundkar; and the Shiv Sena supported the "bandh".

The bandh was peaceful in Bijapur and Bagalkot. In Bijapur, a large number of people were seen stranded in the bus station. The withdrawal of bus services threw life out of gear.

There was an attempt to set fire to the house of an independent councillor of the Bijapur municipality, Vyasray Diwanji, who had supported the pro-Sangh Parivar Dalit bodies which wanted to observe Ambedkar Jayanti.

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