Bengaluru: The Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, called by Kannada Okkuta, a federation of Kannada organisations, evoked a muted response in Bengaluru Thursday. Despite calls for a complete shutdown, normal life remained largely unaffected, with public transport, commercial establishments and essential services functioning as usual.The bandh lost momentum a day before the action after several prominent stakeholders, including Kannada groups, schools, transport operators and hotel associations, withdrew their support, extending only moral support. Barring a few isolated protests, there were no major demonstrations in Bengaluru.BMTC and KSRTC buses, Namma Metro, autorickshaws and cabs operated normally, while hotels, shops and other commercial establishments remained open. Govt offices, companies and other institutions also functioned as usual. Police were deployed at key junctions and sensitive locations, and protesters were cautioned against forcibly shutting establishments, blocking roads or disrupting public movement.Representatives of various Kannada organisations met chief minister DK Shivakumar and submitted demands on long-pending river-water issues concerning Karnataka. Their demands included expediting the Mekedatu and Kalasa-Banduri projects and raising the height of Alamatti reservoir. The representatives assured the govt of their support, while the chief minister thanked the organisations for withdrawing their support to the bandh.More than 250 people were detained across Karnataka, including 15 in Bengaluru, as police stepped up preventive measures to prevent any untoward incidents.City police commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said personnel had been deployed across Bengaluru from 5am. “Last week, DCPs and other senior officers held meetings with leaders, educationists, hoteliers and other stakeholders in their respective jurisdictions, appealing to them not to observe the bandh and instead extend moral support,” Singh said. He added that there was not a single untoward incident in the city.High drama in SanjaynagarHigh drama unfolded in Sanjaynagar when police detained veteran Kannada activist and Kannada Okkuta chairperson Vatal Nagaraj as he stepped out of his RMV Extension residence to address the media about the bandh.Nagaraj, who has been arrested several times during protests over the decades, was furious as police moved in around 10.30am. “You are prohibiting me from addressing the media and taking me away from my home,” he said.When officers tried to explain the action, Nagaraj refused to engage and instead tied tape over his mouth in a dramatic silent protest. His supporters staged a flash protest, prompting police to detain around 10 associates and shift them, along with Nagaraj, to the City Armed Reserve (CAR) grounds in Thanisandra.However, additional director general of police (Law and Order) R Hitendra said no arrests had been made. “They were just detained,” he said, adding that police had not reported incidents of tyre burning or stone pelting.Air travellers reach KIA earlyFear of disruptions prompted several air travellers to reach Kempegowda International Airport hours before their scheduled flights. Some passengers whose flights were scheduled well after noon arrived as early as dawn, worried about the availability of buses, cabs and other transport to Devanahalli.Some were seen sleeping on terminal seats, while families waited for their flights, preferring to spend extra hours at the airport rather than risk getting stranded on Bengaluru’s roads.Tamil Nadu-bound buses briefly suspendedThe bandh had little impact on Bengaluru’s morning routine, but Tamil Nadu-bound bus services from the Satellite Bus Station on Mysuru Road were temporarily suspended as a precaution following police directions.Services to destinations including Ooty, Salem, Vellore, Coimbatore, Tiruvannamalai and Tiruttani were affected, leaving passengers uncertain during the morning. The disruption was short-lived, however, and services resumed after police assured transport authorities of adequate security along the routes.
