Bangalore, Aug 21 - A series of stabbings in Mangalore has prompted authorities to order the closure of all commercial establishments by 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in this city of Karnataka's communally volatile Dakshina Kannada district.

Though the order came into force Friday, the main shopping streets of Mangalore, around 350 km from here, that are usually crowded till 10 p.m. were deserted late Thursday itself, police said.

There is no bar on public transport and movement of private vehicles. But most of the vehicles, particularly buses, were off the road as there were no passengers, officials said.

The decision to close all commercial establishments by 8 p.m. was taken by district authorities Thursday as they fear major clashes ahead of the Ganesh festival.

Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj, who announced the decision at a press meet in Mangalore Thursday, did not give details of the stabbing spree. He and senior police officials of the district said there have been several incidents, though no death has been reported.

With the major festival of Ganeshotsav starting Sunday, the district authorities have appealed to Mangaloreans who want to celebrate it, to cooperate with them.