The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : BJP workers protest against detention of activist

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 22, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP workers protest against detention of activist

By Our Staff Reporter

Buses parked haphazardly on the road near Nagappa Circle after protesters deflated their tyres during the bandh called by the BJP on Friday in protest against the `Festival of Blessings' in Bangalore. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

BANGALORE, JAN. 21. Bharatiya Janata Party workers led by the former Rajajinagar MLA, S. Suresh Kumar, staged a demonstration in front of Subramanyanagar Police Station alleging police excesses on a party worker during the Bangalore bandh on Friday.

Mr. Kumar and the BJP workers took out their shirts and staged a dharna alleging that the police had removed the shirt and trousers of a party worker, Raghu, and kept him in the lock-up at the station.

After some miscreants stoned a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus at Gayathrinagar during the Bangalore bandh called by the BJP, the police took Raghu into custody on the charge that he had indulged in stone throwing.

Following the dharna, the police released Raghu. Mr. Kumar alleged that the police had treated Raghu like a criminal while he was a political activist.

Demonstration

Later, Mr. Kumar and 75 party workers were arrested near the Hebbal flyover when they staged a demonstration to protest against the Festival of Blessings. As the BJP activists were staging a demonstration, some people hurled stones at BMTC buses. The police then resorted to lathi charge and arrested the activists.

Incidents of stone throwing were also reported from Ramamurthynagar, Ulsoor, Malleswaram, Dasarahalli, Banashankari, Seshadripuram, Gangammanagudi, Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, and R.T. Nagar. At several places, drivers of BMTC had to stop the buses midway after miscreants deflated the tyres.

The BJP and the Sangh Parivar activists also went around the city and forced the closure of shops and business establishments. An automobile showroom and a grocery shop were stoned in Malleswaram and Palace Guttahalli. Tyres were set on fire in the middle of the roads to block traffic on Hennur Main Road and Bellary Road.

At least 35 vehicles were damaged in stone throwing at Doddaballapur in Bangalore Rural district. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar activists stopped the vehicles, carrying people to the prayer meeting at Jakkur airstrip, and punctured the tyres at Doddaballapur.

The drivers and conductors at the BMTC bus depot at Puttenahalli, off Yelahanka, staged a demonstration in front of the depot stating that they will not take out the buses as their safety is at risk. Two of their colleagues, Jayaram and Manjunath, were injured in stone throwing.

The police said miscreants set fire to three cars and pelted stones breaking the windshields of a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus late on Friday. They said the bus was stoned near Mekhri Circle around 10 p.m. while the three cars were set on fire in Hebbal Police Station limits, near Kodigehalli around 5.30 p.m. A tense situation prevailed there for a while. The police said 30 people had been arrested in connection with the incident.

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