AMN /
Row over Cauvery water dispute triggered wide scale protests and arson in parts of Karnataka including Bengaluru, Mysuru and Mandya. State Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwar said, 27 Tamil Nadu registered vehicles were torched by miscreants in Bengaluru and 200 people creating trouble were detained.
One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Karnataka escalating tensions between the two states.
To prevent further escalation of situation, prohibitory orders are clamped in these three cities. State has deputed 10 companies of Central Reserve Police Force and 182 companies of Karnataka State Reserve police apart from Rapid Action Force personnel to ensure law and order.
The Centre has rushed ten companies comprising one thousand personnel of the special anti-riot paramilitary force to the state to tackle the violent situation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has appealed for maintainig peace.
Mr Parameshwar also informed that the Chief Minister has written a letter to his counterpart in Tamilnadu J Jayalalitha to ensure safety of Kannadigas in Tamilnadu.
Meanwhile Home Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and took stock of the situation in the two states arising out following the protest over Cauvery water sharing issue.
Earlier, voicing concern over violence against Kannada speaking people and their properties in Tamil Nadu over the past two days, Siddaramaiah wrote to Jayalalithaa to ensure adequate safety and protection to Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu.
“You would agree that the incidents of violence against Kannada speaking people that are being reported from Tamil Nadu would incite passions threatening peace in our state, which all of us should prevent,” Siddaramiah said.
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.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan expressed concern over the “attacks on Tamils” in Karnataka and put the onus of ensuring their safety on the ruling Congress.
In Bengaluru, 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. The sudden rush caused traffic gridlocks in several parts.
The 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 engaged in stone throwing and arson, targeting buses and trucks.
Two Chennai-based hotels and mobile shops were attacked and vandalised in Bengaluru.
Schools and Colleges in Mandya, the epicentre of Cauvery protests schools and colleges have declared holiday till 14 September as a precautionary measure.