Karnataka braces for bandh on Mar 22; security tightened statewide

pro-Kannada groups have called for a 12-hour statewide shutdown on March 22 to protest the alleged assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not knowing Marathi. According to officials, police in various districts have deployed home guards along with the City Armed Reserve unit as a precautionary measure to ensure that the bandh is observed peacefully without causing inconvenience to the public.
Senior officers will also be on the ground to oversee security arrangements and prevent any untoward incidents.
Speaking to reporters, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar urged people to maintain peace and abide by the law.
«We will protect the interests of the state. Everyone should maintain peace and follow the law. However, I feel there is no need for a bandh,» he said.
According to Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Jagadeesha G, no holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city on Saturday despite the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits.

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However, with transport services likely to be disrupted, the bandh is expected to impact lakhs of SSLC (class 10) students appearing for their exams tomorrow.
State-run transport corporations, KSRTC and BMTC (Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation), will remain operational.
However, a final decision will be taken tomorrow based on the situation on the ground, a senior transport department official said.
Sources indicate that some auto-rickshaw, cab, and private driver unions have extended their support to the bandh, while hotel associations, malls, bars, and restaurants have only offered «moral support».
Meanwhile, essential services-including pharmacies, hospitals, ambulances, petrol pumps, and metro services-will