To register their protest against the recent rape and murder of a Dalit girl by so called Hindu activists in Vijayapura district, a complete bandh was observed in Kalaburagi on Thursday.
The bandh call was given by Dalita Sanghatanegala Samanvaya Samithi. The voluntary support of organisations from all walks of life – Dalit groups, trade unions, farmers’ organisations, women’s groups, student associations, Kannada organisations, Muslim, Lingayat and other community-based outfits – and their participation in the agitations made the bandh total.
While Bharatiya Janata Party apparently distanced itself from the protest, the entire district unit of the Congress along with its rank and file were on the street in support.
Shops, malls, cinemas, garages, trading units at agricultural produce market committee yards, banks and other business establishments remained closed since morning. Even roadside petty shops in remote locations and pushcart vendors did not start their business. While private educational institutions had declared holiday a day earlier, those run by the government too remained closed even though the holiday was not officially declared. Gulbarga University that had scheduled an examination for the first semester of the third year law course cancelled the exam at eleventh hour.
“After discussing with Deputy Commissioner, we have decided not to declare holiday officially but to leave the matter to institution heads to take a final call depending on the situation. However, we don’t know how many schools have declared holiday at present. But, the fact is that most of the institutions are not open as the city is witnessing widespread protests and the public transport system is hit,” Shantanagowda Patil, Deputy Director for Public Instruction, said.
The public transport system was paralysed since morning as buses operated by State-owned North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and city commuting services such as autos and taxies operated by private players remained off the roads.
Agitating activists associated with various Dalit and progressive organisations were found staging demonstrations simultaneously at SVP Circle, Jagat Circle, Supermarket, APMC yard, Bus Stand, Dargha Road, Jevargi Road and other areas. Some other activists, forming various smaller groups, took out bike rallies in different areas holding blue flags and raising slogans. They were found stopping vehicles and asking the people return home.
“The response to the bandh call is overwhelming. Several organisations and individuals have voluntarily joined the agitations. Business establishments, banks, educational institutions and public transport players have willingly closed their business. We will continue to protest even after the bandh till we get justice,” said Nagendra J. Javali, district president of Dalita Sene, who was among frontline leaders on Thursday’s agitations.
He demanded, apart from a stringent punishment to perpetrators the crime, removal of all officers including Superintendent of Police, Block Education Officer and Deputy Director of Public Instruction in Vijayapura district for not preventing the crime and their alleged attempts to protect the criminals. He also demanded the cancellation of permission of the school which had no minimum amenities such as toilets, forcing the girl to go out for relieving herself and falling prey to the criminals.
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