Goa observes near total bandh

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-10-21
PANAJI- The bandh called by the Mandir Suraksha Samiti and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party was near total and largely peaceful on Monday baring some stray incidents of violence in the state. The Samiti had called for the daylong shutdown protesting the desecration of Hindu religious icons in the state.
The capital city wore a deserted look with most of the private commercial establishments including shops, market, hotels, restaurants, eateries and petrol pumps remaining closed.
Around 20 people were arrested (all in North Goa) following a few cases of stone throwing on buses and to force closure of shops and establishments. Of the 20 arrested, 12 were detained by the Mapusa police while seven others were arrested in Pernem taluka while one was arrested in Bicholim.
Though the government offices and banks remained open at least 50 to 60 per cent of their employees remained absent due to the severe impact of the bandh on the public transport system. Some of the city banks even worked with shutters pulled halfway down.
The bandh had its effect on the educational institutions too with some of the schools and colleges deciding to declare a holiday. A few of the city schools also decided to postpone the last paper of the first-term examination, scheduled to be conducted on Monday, to a later date, preferably after the Diwali vacation.
The daily essential commodities, including milk, fish, vegetables and vehicle fuels were unavailable throughout the day, while the tourists had to face discomfort being unable to find any food outlet or mode of transport.
The taxi and the rickshaw owners associations had also extended their support to the bandh. The capital city did not witness any law and order situation.
However, there were allegations that some people were forcing business owners to down their shutters and one of these incidents almost led to a flashpoint in Mapusa. The police had to resort to minor lathi-charge where mob confronted the police demanding the closure of a hotel.
The situation was brought under control with the help of the leader of opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar.
Panaji also saw some tense moments in the evening as some bandh enforcers wanted to force a sister concern of the Mapusa restaurant to down the shutters but prompt police action led them to beat a hasty retreat.
While Margao city was paralysed due to the bandh, the villages in coastal Salcete were full of life. The people from the coastal belt outright rejected the bandh call.
In South Goa, no arrests were made. However, senior district police officer, Mr Allan D’Sa informed that only one offence has been registered in the entire South Goa district.
Two KTC buses were stoned. One bus was stoned by an unknown person at Ambaji, Margao. Cuncolim police sources said that a KTC bus plying on Margao-Canacona road was stoned at Dandewaddo in the evening. The bus driver lodged a complaint against the stoning.
Some arteries at Balli, Canacona and Sanguem were blocked by putting felled trees and stones to prevent the entry of buses. Tyres were burnt at several places including near educational institutions.
Mr D’Sa said that over 300 policemen, one company of the CISF and one and half company of the IRB were deployed in South Goa.
He informed that extra police force has been made available to the district administration to meet any eventuality. Sources said policemen would be deployed at places of worship as a precautionary measure.