Triple protests paralyse traffic

Triple protests paralyse traffic
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: From Nayana Auditorium on JC Road to Chota Maidan in Shivajinagar till Peenya II Stage, three protests left motorists stranded on the road on Wednesday. In one incident, Rajagopalnagar police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse garment factory employees.
Around 700 protesters, mainly women, got into a scuffle with policemen in front of their garment factory, Leela Scottish Lace Pvt Ltd, which is being taken over by another firm. They’ve been protesting since July 23, demanding a bonus before the new management takes over. As the company refused to do so, all 1,200 employees boycotted work and went on a dharna.
The company assured their leaders the current benefits would be maintained even under the new management. The employees stuck to their guns and continued the strike. The management got a court order, restricting the agitators from coming within 300 metres of the premises.
Pregnant women hurt
Two pregnant women were hurt during a scuffle between the police and protesters in front on the garment factory. A Rakshana Vedike spokesperson said, the women, Vishalakshi and Kala, both employees of the factory, had to undergo abortions.
On Wednesday morning, as per the court’s direction, Rajagopalnagar police raised barricades around the premises. Agitating employees took on the police and roughed them up. They barged into the premises and went on a dharna at the main gate. In the melee, four policemen sustained minor injuries.
The police had to cane protesters to bring the situation under control. Karnataka Rakshana Vedike leader Narayana Gowda addressed the employees. When the police explained the court order to the employees, they left the place.
Nayana Bhavan stoned
The protest against the delay in work on the Dr Rajkumar memorial and development of the matinee idol’s samadhi at Kanteerava Studio turned violent. A few activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stoned Nayana Bhavan on JC Road.
They alleged that work had not been initiated despite budgetary allocation. They dispersed only after a representative from the Kannada and culture department assured them of speedy work. The protest at Ravindra Kalakshetra choked traffic on JC Road.
Trouble in Shivajinagar
BBMP’s project to construct a stadium at Chota Maidan in Shivajinagar resulted in a protest by youths. On Wednesday, when BBMP officials visited the ground, around 200 youths gheraoed the officials.
They demanded an assurance that entry into the stadium would be free. No case was registered, said Shivajinagar police.