Mangaluru: Puttur town was placed under tight security on Tuesday, following a voluntary bandh call issued by right-wing organisations in the wake of an alleged document-damage incident.Dakshina Kannada SP Arun K visited the town and reviewed the situation. Western Range inspector general of police (IGP) Amit Singh visited Puttur and held a meeting with the SP and other officials at the Inspection Bungalow. He reviewed the security arrangements and issued necessary directions.Schools, colleges, banks and govt offices remained closed as the district administration had declared a holiday on account of Eid Milad. Muslims also kept their shops and establishments closed for the festival. Several other traders shut their businesses following the voluntary bandh call, leaving most parts of Puttur town deserted. However, vehicular movement remained normal. Medical shops and some business establishments were open, and autorickshaws and govt buses ran as usual.“Mass prayers and processions were held peacefully across the district, including in Puttur, in connection with Eid Milad. Additional forces have been deployed and adequate security arrangements have been made. Although a voluntary bandh call was issued, there was no forced shutdown anywhere,” SP Arun K told reporters in Puttur.Meanwhile, Puttur traffic police fined motorists for violating traffic rules by affixing stickers to vehicle glass in a manner that obstructed the driver’s view, and by covering vehicle registration numbers with stickers. Police warned that legal action will be taken against those violating traffic rules under the pretext of festivals, religious celebrations or other programmes.Case registered over provocative WhatsApp messagePuttur Town police have registered a case against the holder of a WhatsApp account operating in the name of Manjunath, for allegedly circulating provocative and false information capable of disturbing public peace and law and order.According to police, the person allegedly circulated a message in the name of a political party, challenging people to observe a bandh in Puttur on Tuesday. The message was allegedly intended to provoke the public and disrupt peace and order. A case has been registered under Section 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is under way.
