The country-wide bandh called on Tuesday by different trade unions drew a mixed response in Dakshina Kannada.
Most of the private and KSRTC buses operated across the district and only a few buses stayed off the roads, police sources informed.
Autorickshaws operated as usual in the district.
Business establishments, hotels, restaurants and medical shops remained open. The number of people visiting the market and shops, however, was minimal for fear of the bandh.
Deepak Kumar, KSRTC Mangaluru Divisional Controller, said that none of the 42 buses between Kasargod and Mangaluru were operated. “Only some buses were operated from Mangaluru to Dharmasthala, Puttur, Bengaluru and other distant places. The buses were operated according to the demand,” he said and added that passengers did not have to wait for buses at the KSRTC bus stand in Bejai.
As per demand
Dilraj Alva, president of the Dakshina Kannada Private Bus Operators’ Association, maintained that the buses would continue to operate if the crew reported to work on Wednesday.
Canara Bus Operators’ Association president Rajavarma Ballal said that buses did not operate in Kundapur, Karkala and Udupi.
In Karkala, the police stopped buses and demanded documents from the drivers. They also made passengers to alight from some buses.
“The bus operators were even asked to furnish an undertaking that they were responsible for any damage inflicted on the buses. A majority of buses in the Karkala, Kundapur and Udupi region, therefore, were not operated,” said Ballal.
Passengers in Mulki hobli were left stranded as the service buses remained off the roads since Tuesday morning.
As a precautionary measure, KSRP and DAR platoons were deployed at sensitive areas. As Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil had declared a holiday, schools and colleges remained closed on Tuesday. Although banks remained open, transactions seemed lesser than usual with fewer customers visiting the banks. Pilgrim centres including Kateel, Pavanje, Dharmasthala and Subrahmanya wore a deserted look most part of the day.
Gram Sabha
The gram sabha of the Haleyangady Gram Panchayat was affected by the bandh. As the nodal officers and departments officers failed to turn up for the meeting at the Pavanje Sri Jnanashakti Subrahmanya Temple, Panchayat president Jalaja postponed the meeting.
Joint Committee of Trade Unions (JCTU) members staged a protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office in Mangaluru, criticising the Central government for its anti-labour policies.
Shramadaan
Coolie workers and Home Guard Abdul Rauf encashed on the bandh, filling up potholes in the Bunder area of Mangaluru city. The road, riddled with potholes, was posing severe inconvenience to vehicle users, Rauf said.
The Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner has said that schools and colleges will be open on Wednesday.