Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Karnataka is facing a bandh today in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu. The 'Kannada Okkuta,' a coalition of pro-Kannada groups, led by activist Vatal Nagaraj, have called for the strike.
The bandh is set to last from 6 am to 6 pm on Friday, with a massive protest procession planned from Town Hall to Freedom Park in the city, expected to draw participants from diverse backgrounds.
The Bengaluru Police Commissioner has confirmed that Section 144 of the CrPC will be in effect in the city from Thursday midnight to Friday midnight, to maintain law and order during the bandh.
Amidst the state-wide Bandh called by pro-Kannada organizations, Karnataka Police have detained more than 50 members of these groups to maintain law and order.
The Karnataka police department is deploying around 80,000 police personnel across the state to ensure security during the bandh. Additional Superintendent of Police of Bengaluru Rural, Mallikarjun Baladandi, stated that adequate arrangements have been made to handle the Bandh, with police taking preventive measures.
Protests erupted in various parts of Karnataka, including Chikkamangalur and Mandya, where demonstrators entered petrol bunks, burnt effigies, and staged road protests.
Operational reasons and passenger cancellations led to the cancellation of 44 flights at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru.
More than 1,900 associations are backing the Bandh. Non-essential shops, including grocery stores, are expected to remain closed, while essential services like hospitals will continue to operate.
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses will run based on the situation. Traffic disruptions are anticipated, especially in central Bengaluru and entry/exit points. Cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber have expressed support for the Bandh and plan to participate in the rally.
The Karnataka Hotel Owners Association has decided to shut its operations across the state. Similarly, the Karnataka Film Exhibitors Association will not screen movies until 6 pm. The Sandalwood film industry is extending its support to the bandh. Karnataka Film Chamber Of Commerce (KFCC) President NM Suresh has announced protests in Bengaluru, led by actor Shiva Raj Kumar.
Namma Metro in Bengaluru will operate as usual with heightened security. Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Dayananda KA has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in the city due to the Karnataka Bandh.