Bengaluru simmers over Cauvery water dispute

Trucks with Tamil Nadu registration numbers were either stoned or set on fire in Bengaluru, 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.

Karnataka Director General of Police Om Prakash said the situation was tense, but under control.

The violence also flared up shortly after the Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, today 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.

At least six Tamil Nadu trucks were set on fire or stoned and a Chennai-based mobile shop and two hotels were attacked in Bengaluru, police said, as activists of different pro-Kannada outfits took to the streets.

Bengaluru police said prohibitory orders had not been imposed in any part of the city and asked people not to pay heed to rumours.

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in the city with 15,000 policemen being deployed.

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 and 3000 home guards are also on duty.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called an emergency cabinet meeting on Tuesday. 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 made a lathicharge to disperse a violent mob, which tried to loot some shops.

Several vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration number were damaged on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, police said. Incidents of Tamil Nadu trucks becoming the target of stoning were reported also from the districts of Mysuru, Chitradurga and Dharwad.

Voicing concern over violence against Kannada speaking people and their properties in Tamil Nadu over the past two days, Siddaramaiah wrote to his counterpart Jayalalithaa to ensure adequate safety and protection for Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu.