The bandh comes after the public outrage over the alleged recent gang-rape of a six-year-old girl at Vibgyor High school that spilled into the streets and drew all-round condemnation with the government and police coming in for criticism.
"Kannada Okoota (federation)", an umbrella body of several Kannada organisations led by Vatal Nagaraj, has given the dawn-to-dusk bandh call, also demanded "severest" punishment to the perpetrators of sexual offences.
"Apart from this, we are also getting two companies of central reserve forces; we have alerted our intelligence units to collect information on any potential problems that can be created. We expect that we will be able to handle the bandh tomorrow, fairly well," he added.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Alok Kumar said they would take strict action against those who indulge in untoward incidents. "We may also book miscreants who indulge in unlawful activities under Goonda Act. All our personnels will be involved in bandobast from today evening itself."
A rash of sexual offences, including the rape of a 22-year old woman in a car while she was with her friend and that of a 15-year-old nun at a seminar in Bangalore had led to public anger and rising concerns over safety of women in the country's IT hub.
Facing public pressure, police issued tough guidelines to schools for safety of children and government has tightened the Goondas Act to bring sexual offenders under its ambit.