With the end of the current Karnataka political crisis, prohibitory orders have been lifted in Bengaluru. Bars, pubs and liquor shops will, however, reopen at 6 pm on Wednesday.
The Bengaluru Police imposed Section 144 (unlawful assembly) for 48 hours starting 6 pm on Tuesday (July 23) to 6 am on Thursday (July 25) in the midst of political upheaval of the trust vote. However, the order was withdrawn on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Police Commissioner Alok Kumar's recent order, the city police had received intelligence reports that no untoward incident was likely to occur on between 6 pm on Wednesday and 6 am on Thursday.
“Generally, when political crisis occurs, Section 144 is imposed to avoid unnecessary conflicts and sudden protests from erupting, which are likely to occur. The situation is peaceful,” Commissioner Alok Kumar said.
Ahead of the trust vote on Tuesday evening, which resulted in the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, Section 144 was imposed throughout the city.
Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar, who initially imposed Section 144 in areas surrounding Vidhana Soudha, soon extended it to the whole city.
"Due to the tension prevailing on either side, various political groups gathering here and there and coming face to face with each other, to prevent any untoward incident, we have declared Section 144 all over Bengaluru city police limits and we have also declared that there will be prohibition and all bars, pubs and wine shops will be closed today and tomorrow," Bengaluru Police Commissioner Alok Kumar told the media.
This came just as Congress and JD(S) workers gathered outside an apartment building at Race Course Road, where two independent MLAs – H Nagesh and R Shankar – are reportedly staying. This is where BJP MLA R Ashoka also lives. The two independent MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh were spotted walking out of the Nitesh Apartments complex on Race Course Road and within minutes, Congress and JD(S) workers gathered at the apartments in an attempt to block the MLAs from going to the Vidhana Soudha for the trust vote.
HD Kumaraswamy also tendered his resignation to Governor Vajubhai Vala on Tuesday night.