Kodagu Observes Successful Half-Day Bandh Over Derogatory Remarks

Due to the bandh called in Kodagu, shops in Gonikoppal town remained shut on Thursday, 12 December. Photo by: Lirish Chinnappa

Madikeri: A half-day bandh organised by the Kodagu Sarva Jananga Okkoota on Thursday, December 12, saw widespread support across Kodagu district.

Shops, hotels, and other non-essential services remained shut until noon in protest against lawyer K.R. Vidyadhar’s derogatory remarks about Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya on social media.

The bandh, which lasted from 6 a.m. to 12 noon, was peaceful with no untoward incidents reported. Essential services like milk supply, newspapers, hospitals, clinics and pharmacies continued as usual, while police maintained heightened security across the district to prevent any disruptions. The bandh was observed in major towns, including Madikeri, Virajpet, Gonikoppal, Somwarpet, Kushalnagar, Ponnampet, and Suntikoppa.

Deserted Gonikoppa bus stand during the bandh in Kodagu. Photo by Lirish Chinnappa.

The Okkoota, a federation of community organisations, demanded strict action against Vidyadhar and called for his banishment from the district for six months as a deterrent against similar offences. The controversial remarks about the two revered military leaders, both hailing from Kodagu, had sparked widespread outrage among the local community.

After the bandh concluded, all services, including shops and hotels, resumed normal operations.

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