Bharat bandh: Public transport damaged in Karnataka

Bangalore: The bandh called by NDA and Left parties to protest the steep hike in petrol prices on Thursday disrupted normal life in parts of BJP-ruled Karnataka where bandh supporters set on fire three buses and stoned about a dozen others forcing authorities to withdraw bus services in the city.

According to initial reports, the bandh evoked good response in several districts. Public transport was hit and shops and business establishments remained shut in several parts of the state.

Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges on Thursday in view of the bandh.

Bandh supporters set on fire three buses and stoned about a dozen others forcing authorities to withdraw bus service.

In stray incidents of violence targeting state-run buses, some persons torched three Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses in the small hours and stoned about a dozen forcing the authorities to withdraw bus services.

While a bus was set on fire on Roopena Agrahara, two others were torched in KR Puram and fire force rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire, police said.

In the wake of stray incidents of stone pelting, BMTC suspended city bus services till Thursday evening.

As a precaution, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) also suspended services in some districts such as Kolar, Ramangara, Chikkaballapur, Hubli-Dharwad and Hassan.

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