Puducherry Bandh: Daily Life In Union Territory Hit As Opposition Protests 9-Year-Old Girl's Murder

With the strike in effect, private buses, autos and tempos ceased operations leaving the bus station in nearby Orleanpet deserted, although government buses continued to function as per the schedule.

Hotels and restaurants remained closed at various locations across Puducherry ( Image Source :Pixabay )

Amid multiple protests over the abduction and killing of a 9-year-old girl, leaders from AIADMK and I.N.D.I.A bloc has called for a bandh in Puducherry today (Friday). The Opposition started the bandh criticising NR Congress-BJP alliance government, led by CM Rangasamy, for its failure to uphold law and order. The 12-hour bandh has affected normal life in the Union Territory, according to a report on PTI. 

On Friday, Puducherry government stationed senior police officials at key locations to maintain peace and order. With the strike in effect, private buses, autos and tempos stopped their operations leaving the bus stop in nearby Orleanpet deserted. Hotels and restaurants remained closed at various locations. Similarly, vegetable vendors and fish sellers refrained from conducting their business.

The Opposition parties also voiced their discontent with the government's inability to combat the drug problem. They also demanded severe penalties for those responsible for the murder of the girl. A nine-year-old girl who went missing was found dead in a drain near her house in Solai Nagar on Tuesday.

During a road blockade, AIADMK members, led by state secretary A Anbalagan, were arrested in the Odiansalai area. Anbalagan addressing the media said the UT's government did not effectively address the drug issue. He referenced a statement made by Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday highlighting the connections between drug dealers in Puducherry and the drug mafia in Tamil Nadu.

He demanded the maximum possible sentences for the arrested suspects—a fifty-year-old man and a teenager—to deter future crimes. Anbalagan criticized the absence of visits to the grieving family by any ministers or officials.

Members from the Congress, the DMK and other I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties demonstrated at Pattanikadi junction calling for tough punishment for the culprits.