Sri Rama Sene sponsored bandh evokes mixed response in Karnataka

The Karnataka bandh called by right-wing outfit Sri Rama Sene to protest the blackening of its leader Pramod Mutalik's face allegedly by youth Congress activists evoked a mixed response today.
    
In Udupi district, unidentified persons pelted stones at the residence of senior Congress leader and former Union minister Oscar Fernandes and also at that of former minister Vasantha Salian at Kaup in the wee hours.
   
Vehicular movement was affected in coastal districts of Udupi and Mangalore. Operators suspended bus services in Udupi after Sene activists forcibly stopped them and hurled stones on a few vehicles, police said.
    
Traffic was also affected in Mangalore, Gadag, Belgaum and Hubli, where the Sene men forced shop owners to down their shutters.
    
More than 200 persons were taken into preventive custody here last night.Police have beefed up the security in the state to avert any untoward incident.
    
Mutalik's face was blackened and an attempt made to assault him prior to a discussion on Valentine's day celebration organised by a regional TV channel at an open air theatre in the city on Thursday.
    
Sri Rama Sene, whose activists were blamed for the attack on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2008, has threatened to disrupt Valentine's day celebrations.