BELAGAVI
Violence continued for the second day in Northern Karnataka to protest against the Mhadei tribunal s order on the interim relief, as the districts of Dharwad and Gadag were paralysed due to a Bandh declared in Karnataka. Various organisations in the state have called for a state-wide bandh on Saturday. However, the bandh was partial in Belagavi. Hotels frequented by Goans in the city remained empty as Goans preferred not to visit Belagavi on Thursday. Traffic in Belagavi city was paralysed for more than two hours on Thursday morning, as protesters gathered in large numbers at the Rani Chenamma Circle and burnt effigies of Karnataka CM Siddaramiah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Normal life in Savadatti, Ramdurg, Bailhongal and Khanapur talukas was paralysed, while the bandh was partial in Belagavi. Commercial establishments remained shut while vehicles remained off the road. Advocates boycotted the proceedings at the above talukas. Educational institutions in the Malaprabha basin talukas, except in Belagavi, remained closed due to an official holiday declared. The bandh turned violent in Navalgund as protesters indulged in arson and torched the records and furniture at BSNL office and the bus station. They later set the furniture ablaze. The office of the Public Works Department and Government ITI College were also targeted by the protesters. A jeep reportedly belonging to the PWD was torched while a few vehicles were also damaged by the protesters. Police initially fired rubber bullets in the air and subsequently had to resort to firing tear gas shells to disperse the angry mob at the Navalgund bus depot. Dharwad district police had a tough time in keeping the volatile situation under control. Dharwad s Superintendent of Police Dharmender Kumar Meena, who was camping at the site was also targeted by the agitating farmers, compelling the police to resort to a lathi-charge, in which a few farmers were hurt. Inspector General of Police of Northern Range Ramachandra Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Dharwad S B Bommanahalli also rushed to the spot on receiving news that the situation had worsened in Navalgund. Prohibitory orders were imposed in Hubli-Dharwad and Navalgund till late evening, while at least seven persons were arrested with lethal weapons.
