Good Samaritans save the day

Good Samaritans save the day
Bangalore: It took just 20 minutes for miscreants from a neighbouring area to run riot in JC Nagar. But, for hours later, commuters, students and the residents around JC Nagar area were put to hardship.
The first casualty was traffic around Cantonment, Mehkri Circle and Coles Park. The police blocked the Jayamahal Road between Cantonment railway station and Mehkri Circle and Nandidurg Road. This had a cascading effect on Miller’s Road, Vasanth Nagar, Mehkri Circle and St John’s Road. The police also blocked Nandidurg Road, forcing residents of Benson Town and Jayamahal to take different routes.
The worst affected were school children returning home. While some older children mustered courage to walk on deserted streets, school van drivers struggled to make sure children reached home. Many school vans took alternative routes, but still encountered police blockades, and were some distance from their destination. Drivers pleaded with police to escort children home.
A heartening sight was good samaritans of the area joining hands with the police to help divert traffic. In some places, when school vans arrived to drop children, these youths readily escorted the children home.
“Though we are from this area, we are helpless. We don’t want any trouble and we told the police about it. The group creating the problem near the police station is from Tannery Road,’’ said Ishtiaq, who helped police manage the traffic. Though the police laid siege to the entire area, no one looked particularly alarmed. The mob was about 200 metres from the police station, where the cops had erected a second-level blockade.
“I don’t know why this problem happened. We’ve been having daily celebrations at Khadar Wali Dargah in front of the police station, an extension of the Urs in Ajmer. Many people gather every day for the cultural programmes, which are part of the celebrations. This incident will ruin the function at Darga,’’ said a worried Rashid.
The police were taken by surprise when the event turned ugly. In the morning, locals from both communities agreed to maintain peace. When the problem began in the afternoon, the DCP went out of the police station for negotiations. His walkie (personal security) Siddaraju sensed danger and moved him to safety but suffered an eye injury in the melee. By 5 pm, an uneasy calm prevailed in the area. Closed shops bore testimony to the day’s events.