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Near normalcy in Bangalore

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, Aug. 2

AFTER two days of total shutdown following Veerappan's abduction of Mr. Rajkumar, Bangalore showed a resemblance of normalcy. Many offices, banks, shops, even the Bangalore Metro Transport buses returned to near routine services.

Schools, colleges were however declared closed for two more days in Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajnagar. The prohibitory orders imposed two days ago on the city continued today. Liquor shops will be closed till midnight of August 4.

After a high level meeting with the police to take stock of the situation, the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, read out a statement assuring that the civic life has been ``fairly restored to normalcy'' and rumours should not be believed. There were unc onfirmed reports of stone-throwing in Bangalore.

Officially, there was little information on the negotiations or the whereabouts of the emissary sent for the release of Mr. Rajkumar and three other hostages. Mr. Krishna merely said: ``We have information that the emissary (MR. R.R.Gopal of Nakkeeran) d espatched by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu left Chennai on this delicate assignment. It is not appropriate to disclose more details. The media may kindly cooperate with the Governments by not publishing unconfirmed reports. ... Rumours are being spread by ant i-social elements and they will be dealt with sternly.''

The Karnataka Government had posted senior IPS officer, Dr. Srinivas, to Chennai to coordinate the affair. Mr. Shiv Rajkumar, actor son of the kidnapped Kannada superstar, is currently in Chennai.

Mr. Krishna said the situation has been by and large peaceful and ``we are working towards restoring complete normalcy''. Besides the five companies of CRPF on hand, the State has been promised more platoons by its neighbours if the need arose.