Roads, bus stands and other public areas in Puducherry wore a deserted look on Friday as the Union Territory observed a bandh called by political parties to protest government inaction against drug trafficking in the wake of the murder of a nine-year-old girl. Political parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and others in the INDIA Opposition bloc, as well as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), had called for the bandh on Friday. Puducherry Collector A Kulothungan said in a statement that the district administration has taken requisite measures to ensure the public as well as school students appearing for the examination do not face any hurdles due to the bandh. He added that measures have been taken to ensure uninterrupted essential services to the public. Police personnel were also deployed to avoid any untoward incidents. People, however, were left stranded at several bus stands due to the minimal services of both government and private buses. AIADMK cadre at Anna Salai in Puducherry staged a protest on Friday morning, raising slogans demanding Chief Minister N Rangaswamy’s resignation. The Opposition slammed the government and the police for not taking stringent measures to curb the menace of drugs, as according to initial reports, the accused who allegedly murdered the Class 5 student – her body was discovered in a drain near her residence on Tuesday – were under the influence of drugs. The police have arrested Vivekanandan, 56, and Karunas alias Kakka, 19, under sections related to murder and kidnapping under the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) and SC/ST Acts. A special investigation team (SIT) headed by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) R Kalivanan has also been formed to investigate the incident. While CM Rangamsamy met the victim’s family and announced a compensation of Rs 20 lakh, Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundarajan assured the establishment of a fast-track court to expedite the case. The girl’s body was cremated on Thursday after the post-mortem.
