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Pondicherry bandh passes off without incident

Special Correspondent

Government and private buses, auto-rickshaws kept off the road

— Photo : T. Singaravelou

MOST AFFECTED: Schoolchildren were among those who bore the brunt during the bandh called by the DMK - led multi-party coordination committee in Pondicherry on Tuesday.

PONDICHERRY: The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the DMK-led multi party action committee on Tuesday to condemn the `non cooperative attitude' of the private unaided medical colleges in admitting students under the government quota threw normal life out of gear. All transport services, autos and tempos were off the roads and shops and establishments also remained closed.

The Bandh was peaceful as no untoward incidents were reported from any part of Pondicherry and Karaikal regions, police sources said.

Police pickets were posted at vantage points. Police sources said that some 15 persons were arrested in the Ariankuppam block when they allegedly wooed the shop-keepers to down the shutters.

Deemed varsities

The action committee took strong exception to two privately run unaided medical colleges here for refusing to admit students under the management quota on the ground that these institutions were deemed universities and that they were not bound to accept the students sponsored by the government.

All incoming buses from other States halted at border points and passengers had to walk to the town as no transport services were available within the Union Territory limits.

Those travelling to Cuddalore and Villupuram had to opt for taxies, which operated from the bus stand area. They charged between Rs 30 and Rs 50 per head. Also a few three-wheeler mini lorries plied between Pondicherry and Cuddalore. Passengers had to pay Rs 2 to Rs 5 for traveling in such vehicles.

Private schools closed

When government schools and colleges functioned normally private schools were closed. The attendance in the government schools was almost 90 per cent, said G. Theva Neethi Dhas, Director, School Education.

Almost all the government offices and other departments functioned normally, but attendance in some of the offices was less, compared to normal working days.

The banks, both private and public sector, and private enterprises functioned with almost full attendance, but business transactions were affected partially.

Hospital attendance

The Medical Superintendent of Government General Hospital Dr. Dilip Kumar Baliga said, "attendance was full but patients had to suffer a lot to reach the hospital". It was the same case with JIPMER also, where most of the patients come from rural and neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu.

But the worst effected was the trading community where they had to close their shops due to the bandh, which is the second one in just four days. Excepting for a few tea shops and provision stores, all other business establishments downed their shutters.

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