Cauvery Row: Karnataka on the Edge as Violence Escalates

Bengaluru: As the Cauvery water sharing row raged, violence flared up in the city with rampaging mobs setting fire to at least 30 buses and trucks with Tamil Nadu registration number plate and bringing the country’s IT capital on the edge.

Shortly after the modified Supreme Court order on release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and amid reports of alleged attacks on Kannadigas in the neighbouring state, violence broke out sending a wave of panic across the city, which was brought under prohibitory orders till normalcy is restored. Buses and trucks with Tamil Nadu registration number plate and several shops and establishments with roots there bore the brunt of vandalism by protesters with a travel company depot being the worst affected with several parked buses set afire.

Incidents of arson came even as police said they have made elaborate security arrangements with 15,000 policemen being deployed, bolstered by Karnataka State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve Police, Rapid Action Force, Quick Reaction Teams, special forces, Central Industrial Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the government did not expect the protest to go to this extent. “We expected that if the decision goes against us, there will be some protest, but definitely not to this extent. This is all hit and run kind of thing where 20-30 people join together to protest where police are not there, then they suddenly run away. The situation was being brought under control,” he said adding that 200 people been detained. He said forces have been deployed at sensitive points, particularly where Tamil population and establishments are located.

Trucks with Tamil Nadu registration number plate were either stoned or set on fire also in Mandya, Mysuru,Chitradurga and Dharwad districts as Kannada activists gave vent to their anger over alleged attacks on state vehicles and property of Kannadigas in the neighbouring state and also against the apex court modified order.

Trucks with Tamil Nadu registration number plate were either stoned or set on fire also in Mandya, Mysuru,Chitradurga and Dharwad districts as Kannada activists gave vent to their anger over alleged attacks on state vehicles and property of Kannadigas in the neighbouring state and also against the apex court modified order. The Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, on Monday asked Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu till September 20. In its September five order, the apex court had directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighbouring state, which had triggered strong protests from farmers and pro-Kannada outfits with Karnataka observing a bandh against it on September nine.

In Mandya district, the main epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, two trucks were set ablaze and the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway was blocked after the Supreme court order came out. Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse a violent mob, which tried to loot some shops. Several vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration number plate were damaged on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, police said. In parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, protests by fringe Tamil outfits erupted on Monday with some commercial and government establishments of Karnataka coming under attack. The protests came a day after a video purportedly showing a 22-year-old Tamil youth being beaten up by a group of men in Bengaluru for alleged derogatory remarks on social media against Kannada film actors went viral.

Outfits such as Naam Tamizhar Katchi and Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi hit the streets protesting the ongoing agitations in Karnataka opposing release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, police said. A popular restaurant in Chennai and tourist vehicles bearing Karnataka registration plate in Rameswaram were vandalised while protesters created a ruckus at a Karnataka Bank branch in neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, police said.

Four persons have been detained in connection with the restaurant attack while around 25 taken into custody in Puducherry, they said. Police protection was provided to the Karnataka Bank branches in Tamil Nadu. In an early morning incident here, protesters owing allegiance to Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK) allegedly vandalised a popular restaurant owned by a native of Karnataka. They smashed the window panes using iron rods and wooden logs and four persons belonging to the outfit had been detained in connection with the incident, a police official said.

At Rameswaram, seven tourist vehicles bearing Karnataka registration number plate that were parked at a temple were damaged when agitated members of various outfits including Naam Tamizhar Katchi allegedly indulged in vandalism. The group entered the parking lot of the temple near Agni Theertham sea in the town and damaged the vehicles with clubs and stones, police said. Cases have been registered against seven persons in connection with the episode, they said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday to discuss the situation arising out of the Cauvery row. He said his government was firmly committed to maintaining law and order in the state and had taken utmost precaution to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, particularly Tamil speaking people.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called an emergency cabinet meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation arising out of the Cauvery row. As reports of arson and vandalism spread, office-goers rushed back home, with many companies calling off work as a precautionary step and schools and colleges declaring holiday, with sudden rush causing traffic gridlocks in several parts. Metro, on which lakhs of commuters depend, also temporarily suspended its services. Activists of disparate pro-Kannada outfits took control of streets in several areas and resorted to stone throwing and burning, targetting buses and trucks.

Asking people not to pay heed to rumours and to cooperate in maintaining law and order, Karnataka state DGP Omprakash said as a precautionary measure section 144 is in place in Bengaluru city, Mandya, Mysuru, Srirangapatna and near four dams in the Cauvery basin.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah said his government was firmly committed to maintaining law and order in the state and had taken utmost precaution to ensure the safety and security of all citizens, particularly Tamil speaking people, in the state. Speaking to reporters earlier, Siddaramaiah said he would also speak to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, if necessary, on the incidents targeting Kannadigas. Asking people not to pay heed to rumours and to cooperate in maintaining law and order, Karnataka state DGP Omprakash said as a precautionary measure section 144 is in place in Bengaluru city, Mandya, Mysuru, Srirangapatna and near four dams in the Cauvery basin. Prohibitory orders will remain until normalcy is restored, he said adding, the situation is tense, but under control.

PTI