BENGALURU: The bandh call over Idgah Maidan in Chamarajpet on Tuesday elicited partial response. While shops in several areas remained shut, those who chose not to respond to the call, ran their businesses as usual.
The dawn-to-dusk bandh was called by Chamarajpet Nagarikara Okkuta Vedike to demand BBMP to grant permission to hold Independence Day and Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at the disputed Idgah Maidan in the locality.
BBMP recently claimed it does not have ownership over the land. Karnataka state board of AUQAF is seeking ownership of the land and the Palike asked it to produce documents to support its case.
On Tuesday, members of right-wing organisations barged into the ground shouting slogans against BBMP. Over 40 protesters were detained and sent away in BMTC buses. The bandh was partially successful in Azad Nagar, Chamarajpet, Chalavadipalya, Raipura and Padarayanapura wards. The response was tepid in the other two wards of Chamarajpet assembly constituency — JJ Nagar and KR Market.
Barring a couple of incidents where groups had heated arguments, no untoward incidents were reported. Apart from 700 police personnel, four armed battalions of Karnataka State Reserve Police were deployed. While an inspector was in charge of each sector, a sub-inspector led the team at the junctions. Four assistant commissioners of police patrolled the area throughout the day. DCP (west) Lakshman Nimbargi went around visiting the junctions.
Most private schools and other educational institutions had declared a holiday. Hospitals, clinics, medical shops and shops selling essentials were open. In Anandapura, heated arguments broke out between the protesters and locals in the morning when the former asked shops to close down. Cops dispersed the groups quickly. Rukhmangada S from Chamrajpet Nagarikara Okkuta Vedike said the bandh was successful in most parts of the constituency and minority community members closed shops in solidarity.
