Shivamogga: Normality returned to Tirthahalli on Tuesday, a day after it witnessed stone-pelting during a bandh called to condemn the death of a 14-year-old girl after she was allegedly abducted and molested.
The commercial establishments and hotels functioned normally on Tuesday, while the bus and autorickshaw services resumed. The administration has enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the entire taluk till Wednesday. However, the prohibitory orders will be in force till November 10 in Tirthahalli.
A large number of police personnel were deployed near the town panchayat, Koppa Circle, Kuvempu Circle and Azad Road in Tirthahalli where incidents of stone pelting had been witnessed. Superintendent of Police Koushalendra Kumar was personally supervising the security arrangements. Peace also returned to Ranjadakatte, Malur, Megaravalli and Agumbe villages, where incidents of stone pelting had been witnessed on Monday.
The district unit of Arya-Idiga Sangha and other organisations have called for a bandh in Sagar on Wednesday to condemn the incident.
Stir continued
Hassan Staff Correspondent reports:
Normal life in Malenad region continued to be affected by agitations against the Tirthahalli on Tuesday.
In Sringeri, following a bandh call given by some pro-Hindu organisations, all business establishments remained closed and public transport had come to a standstill. Protesters took out a rally demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
The pro-Hindu groups have called for Balehonnur bandh between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Wednesday on the same issue.
Death note
Addressing a press conference at Balehonnur, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha member Shobha Karandlaje charged the State government with trying to protect those accused in the kidnap and rape case. “The death note surfaced four days after the girl died. The delay in releasing the death note has raised doubts over the intentions of the police. It seems, they are trying to safeguard the culprits,” she said and added that the law and order had collapsed in the State. Students of various colleges had on Monday staged a protest under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Shivamogga demanding immediate arrest of those responsible for the death of the 14-year-old girl at Tirthahalli.
Arrest demanded
Sandeep Kumar, taluk convener of ABVP, had expressed displeasure over the alleged delay in arresting the culprits. Incidents of sexual assault on minor girls were increasing by the day across the State. The State law and order machinery had collapsed, he had said and urged Minister for Home K.J. George to own moral responsibility for the incident and resign from his post.
