Bengaluru: Pro-labour and Kannada organisations have called for a statewide bandh on Thursday July 31 to protest against increasing number of sexual assaults against women. Organisers of the bandh have clarified that it was not against the state government, but an attempt to highlight the seriousness of the crisis.
Mr Vatal Nagaraj, former MLA and Kannada activist, who addressed the media along with members of other organisations here on Friday, said that the bandh will be observed between 6 am and 6 pm. “Emergency services, including water, milk, hospital and ambulance services, will not be affected during the bandh.
All schools, colleges, software companies, cinema theaters, government and private offices and commercial establishments are requested to join the protest to send a strong signal to perverts. It will be a peaceful protest,” he said.
In Bengaluru, a protest march will be taken out from the Freedom Park till the chief minister’s residence on Race Course Road. The rally will go in front of Vidhana Soudha.
Officials from the Department of Public Instruction said that schools across the state could be closed on the bandh day to ensure safety of children. “It is a sensitive issue and we don't want to take any risks. Block Education Officers will be given authority to announce holiday to schools,” an officer said.
The police have made tight security arrangements for the bandh day and will deploy City Armed Reserve (CAR) and Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) forces. Fire brigade personnel and home guards will also be on full alert.
City Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi will chair a meeting with all the senior police officers on July 28 to discuss preparations for the bandh. Sensitive areas will be identified and jurisdictional police will be asked to intensify patrolling.
DCPs will coordinate the operations and keep a watch. Policemen will be equipped with video cameras to record untoward incidents and gather evidence against protesters.
Services exempt from bandh
* Hospital services including medical shops
* Milk supply
* Water supply
* Ambulance
Meanwhile, Vibgyor High, Marathahalli, which is reopening on Monday, has published a new timetable. As per the schedule, classes for students of grades 5 to 10 will commence on Monday. Eid holiday will be on Tuesday. On Wednesday, classes for grade 1 to 4 will resume while classes for nursery to senior KG will resume on Friday.
