Bandh near total, reports of school buses smashed 2011-06-06 Near total bandh in Goa. Markets and schools were closed, most buses stayed off the roads. While business owners and daily wage labourers lost a day's earnings, salaried folk enjoyed an extra long weekend and a chance to sleep in on a rainy day. The bandh was total in Ponda, Curchorem, Mapusa, Panaji, Bicholim, Pernem, and many other places, some schools in Margao defied the bandh and stayed open. The teachers however could not make it to the schools on time and the attendance of students was poor.
There are unconfirmed reports that two schoolbuses carrying children were attacked by protesters. The children were made to get off the buses and the vehicles then smashed. The agitators then took the children home. There were incidents of stone throwing in different parts of the state and around 26 buses damaged. Two Kadamba buses were stoned in Bicholim and in Margao. Very few buses were seen plying on the roads, either on the highways or on city roads. Fearing attacks from protestors, most schools remained closed on the first day of the academic year. Most shops too remained closed. Whether in support of the non-payment of government grants to English Medium Primary schools, or in fear of being attacked by agitators is the moot question. http://www.targetgoa.com/newsd-Bandh-near-total-reports-of-school-buses-smashed-2461 COMMENT: If true not only vandalism but also kidnapping. Police should now investigate. -- DEV BOREM KORUM Gabe Menezes.
