Partial response to Bengaluru bandh

The Bengaluru bandh called by farmers and Kannada organisations and backed by the BJP and JD(S) in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu evoked partial response, with most of the public services functioning normally, but fewer people venturing out. 'Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti,' an umbrella outfit of farmers' associations and other organisations led by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar, has given the call for dawn-to-dusk Bengaluru shutdown. Shanthakumar and other leaders were detained by the police at the Mysuru Bank circle. Several activists of Kannada organisations were also whisked away by the police. Farmers' leaders and Kannada activists hit out at the government for allegedly using police force to curtail the protests and bandh. City police have taken adequate security measures to respond to any violence that may happen during the protests. About 100 platoons have been deployed. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that prohibitory orders were in place across the city in the wake of the bandh. Meanwhile, a Karnataka bandh, a state-wide shutdown, has been called, on September 29 by 'Kannada Okkuta', an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, led by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj. They are not supporting Tuesday's bandh.