Under-curfew Mangaluru now remains calm after CAA storm: Dr PS Harsha

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 21, 2019: An uneasy calm prevailed in most parts of Mangaluru city limits on Friday following violence during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Bunder area on Thursday. Barring two minor incidents of stone pelting on buses at Surathkal and Uppinangady, outside the curfew limits, no untoward incident was reported, as to Times of India.

Mangaluru city police commissioner PS Harsha had imposed curfew across Mangaluru city limits till midnight of December 22 and mobile internet services had been disconnected. Deputy commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh declared a holiday to all anganwadis, schools, colleges, ITI, Polytechnic and professional colleges on Saturday. Wine shops, bars and restaurants will also remain closed.

Security was beefed up in all sensitive areas and additional forces were deployed near the mortuary of the government Wenlock Hospital, where the postmortem of Jaleel Bengre, 49, and Nauseen Kudroli, 23, was performed. Several Congress leaders, including former minister UT Khader, MLCs BM Farooq and Ivan D’Souza visited the mortuary.

By 2pm, the bodies were handed over to family members. From there, the bodies were taken to Al-Ehsan Masjid, Falnir, for rituals and namaz was offered. The body of Jaleel was taken to his house in Khandak where family members paid their tributes and he was laid to rest at the Zeenath Baksh premises around 4.45pm. The last rites of Nauseen Kudroli were performed at Kudroli Jumma Masjid around 5pm.

Milk booths, shops closed

Many Mangalureans couldn’t have their morning cup of tea as several milk booths restricted the sale of milk to 1 litre per person. People queued up in large numbers at several booths. At a booth near Jeppu, people had to return home disappointed. Initially, the vendor said milk would be supplied at 11am, but later said the supply had been cancelled. In several areas, police asked people to return home.
Many hotels, that opened at 6am in Yeyyadi, Kulshekar, Bikarnakatte areas were forced to shut down by 7.30am. Police ensured that all shops and hotels remained closed.

However, a few hotels in Mangaluru agreed to offer parcel service to regular customers. Most medical shops too remained closed, but a few opened in the evening.

Two-hour curfew relaxation

Based on a request from senior political and Muslim leaders, curfew was relaxed for nearly two hours between 12.15pm and 2.15pm allowing community members to offer Friday prayers. Muslims turned out in large numbers to offer prayers.

Digital transactions were denied at petrol bunks as mobile internet services were disconnected and people had to pay by cash. Private and government bus services remained off roads. Passengers, who arrived at the Central Railway station, found it difficult to reach home.