Normal life came to a standstill in Kushalnagar in Kodagu district this morning following the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the ‘Cauvery Taluk Rachana Horata Samiti’ demanding taluk status for Kushalnagar. As of now, Kushalnagar comes under Somwarpet Taluk and it has been a long-pending demand of Kushalnagar residents for a separate Taluk.

The bandh was called to protest against the State Government for not announcing Kushalnagar Taluk while it announced creation of 49 new Taluks in the State in the Budget session.

Members of Cauvery Taluk Rachana Horata Samiti stopped vehicles entering Kushalnagar from Koppa Gate, Thavarekere, and Mullusoge areas from as early as 6 am today. While the movement of vehicles on the Mysuru-Madikeri Road came to a grinding halt, the movement of KSRTC buses too was affected though some buses reached reach Koppa Gate from Mysuru. Later, the KSRTC buses and other vehicles were allowed to proceed towards Mysuru and Madikeri from Kushalnagar in a staggered manner, not to inconvenience passengers.

Shops and commercial establishments downed shutters in the town to support the bandh and private vehicles, autorickshaws, maxi-cabs, and private buses stayed off the roads. The bandh was backed by social and cultural organisations, Kushalnagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other associations.

Protesters formed human chains and squatted on the roads to express their anger. They said that the long-pending demand of a Taluk status for Kushalnagar was ignored by the State Government. President of Cauvery Taluk Rachana Horata Samiti V.P. Shashidhar said the government must form the Taluk as it had the merit such as population, extent of land, and required infrastructure.