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Peaceful start to Karnataka bandh

M D Riti in Bangalore

No untoward incident has been reported in Bangalore city till 1100 hours IST, the police control room said, as a bandh got underway in Karnakata on Thursday.

The bandh has been effective but very peaceful, police officials added.

The bandh call has been given by the actor's fans, family members and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce to express solidarity with Kannada film icon Dr Rajakumar, who is being held captive by forest brigand Veerappan along with three others in the Satyamangalam forests.

Rajakumar Fans' Association president S R Govindu told rediff.com that supporters would help the police maintain law and order.

The Karnataka government may not have sponsored or supported it, but it is sympathetic towards it.

Few buses and private vans were plying in the city in the morning and hospitals were open. Several hotels were also open, though many employees have not reported to work in fear.

The government has arranged for 10,000 armed policemen to patrol the streets, concentrating on trouble-prone areas, to ensure that the bandh is peaceful. There are eight companies of the Rapid Action Force, 155 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police and platoons from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Over 190 police vehicles will move around as well.

Eight districts, including Bangalore, have been identified as sensitive.

Mysore has been exempted from the bandh as state government-sponsored Dassera festivities begin there on Thursday.

When Rajakumar was abducted, the Karnataka government had announced that he would be back by the start of Dassera and would inaugurate its festivities in Mysore.

Government sources said that his wife Parvathamma was sounded out about inaugurating the show, but she declined.

EARLIER REPORT
Karnataka govt braces up as bandh begins

COMPLETE COVERAGE
The Rajakumar Abduction
The saga of Veerappan

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