Shoppers run for safety

Shoppers run for safety

The Hindu

Commercial Street shuts down; chaos around Ulsoor Lake

BANGALORE: The outbreak of violence in and around Shivajinagar on Sunday led to panic on Commercial Street, the city's commercial hub.

As miscreants started stoning houses and business establishments on Kamaraj Road and OPH Road, the shopkeepers on Commercial Street downed their shutters.

A large number of people, who had thronged the Commercial Street as usual on Sunday, ran for safety. Some shoppers managed to take shelter inside the shops.

After the police rushed in reinforcement, the shoppers cautiously came out of the shops and tried to leave the area. Their anxiety increased as autorickshaws and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses were off the road.

"I came here to shop for my sister's engagement scheduled for January 28. I did not get any vehicle to reach my house in Nagawara," said T. Nagesh, who was stranded with his wife and nine-month-old daughter. He was waiting for his friend to pick him from there.

Following the violence and processions taken out in Ulsoor, Fraser Town, Bharathinagar, Nagawara and surrounding localities, traffic was disrupted in several areas.

The Shivajinagar bus station wore a deserted look. The BMTC did not operate services from Shivajinagar bus station.

Several buses coming to the city were stranded on Old Madras Road. People were seen walking long distances in search of transport. Vehicles going towards Krishnarajapuram were diverted through Airport Road. There was chaos on roads around the Ulsoor Lake as the miscreants stoned passing vehicles.

Security tightened

People gathered at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital as those injured in the violence were admitted there. The police had tightened security at the hospital.

Home Minister M.P. Prakash said the Government would not tolerate lawlessness and would initiate action against perpetrators of the violence.