Tempers flare over Cauvery, as attacks increase so do appeals for peace

Bengaluru police impose prohibitory orders in the city.
Tempers flare over Cauvery, as attacks increase so do appeals for peace
Tempers flare over Cauvery, as attacks increase so do appeals for peace
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Stray incidents of violence have been reported in parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Cauvery dispute.

Security beefed up

Although the Bengaluru police did not impose prohibitory orders in Bengaluru city through most of the day, Section 144 was imposed at 5pm. Nearly 270 Cheetah vehicles, 15,000 police personnel and 3,000 home guards have been deployed across the city to maintain law and order.

182 companies of Karnatka State Reserve Police have also been deployed. Home Minister G Parameshwra says the state has requested for 10 more companies of central forces. 

Heavy security forces have been deployed in areas of Bengaluru with a high Tamil population. 

In Mysuru, however, prohibitory orders have reportedly been issued for a 24-hour period in a 2-km radius around the APMC yard in the Bandipalya area on Nanjangud Road. The situation is now peaceful in the area, and the order will be reviewed after 24 hours.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah released a statement on Twitter informing that he had advised the Karnataka DG and the Bengaluru Commissioner to provide security to Tamils in Karnataka. He assured the public that people who assaulted a young student for his remarks on social media would soon be nabbed.

He added that he will write to TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa urging strict action against those who assaulted Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu.

Stray incidents vandalism in Bengaluru

Across Bengaluru, with some stores belonging to Tamil owners such as Poorvika Mobile World and Adyar Anand Bhavan being vandalised by protestors, a number of stores and markets in parts of the city like Indiranagar 100-ft Road, CMH Road and MG Road and other places downed their shutters as a precautionary measure.

Protestors reportedly barged into Mantri Mall, forcing customers to leave.

A Tamil Nadu-registered truck was set on fire by unidentified miscreants near Attibele toll gate on Monday morning, confirmed a senior police official to The News Minute. Police are looking for the accused.

Mobile shop Poorvika at Indiranagar in Bengaluru was attacked by a group of 20 protesters. Those inside the mobile shop were reportedly beaten up by protesters, who forced them to shut the shop. The shop is owned by a Tamilian.

Another Tamil restaurant Adyar Anand Bhavan at Indiranagar has also closed following violence. 

The Adyar Anand Bhavan outlet in the Mysuru Road Satellite Bus Stand was vandalised.

Following reports violence in some parts of the state, Shashi Kumar, President of Karnataka Private Schools Association said that they have informed all private schools to arrange for children return home.  

There are also reports of crowds stopping Tamil Nadu registered vehicles at Whitefield in Bengaluru.

Trucks and other vehicles with TN registration have been burnt on NICE road and Nayandahalli in Bengaluru and near St Mary’s church in Mysuru.

Other vehicles have also been pelted with stones or otherwise attacked in parts of Bengaluru and in Chamarajanagar.

There were also protests by a handful of pro-Kannada activists in pockets across Bengaluru, disrupting traffic. Traffic jams were reported in several parts of the city including Mysuru Road and Silk Board. This crowdsourced map on areas to avoid in the city has been shared across social media platforms, helping commuters plan what routes to avoid while returning home. 

According to TV news reports, pro-Kannada activist Vattal Nagaraj and other protestors have been detained by the police.

Sporadic reports of violence in TN

At least five Karnataka-registered vans were attacked by pro-Tamil activists at Rameshwaram in Ramanathapuram in southern Tamil Nadu.

A video posted on Facebook show four men wielding sticks vandalising a van that had a Karnataka number plate. The video also shows the same group of men then threatening and beating a man, forcing him to say that, “Cauvery is Tamilan’s”.

Police have arrested eight people for vandalism in Ramanathapuram.

The incidents reported come in the wake of an attack on Udupi restaurant, The New Woodlands Hotel in Chennai in the wee hours of Monday.

Another pro-Tamil outfit Liberation Panthers cadres blocked a Karnataka government-run bus in Ambur, demanding action against a group that attacked a Tamil student in Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, Karnataka DGP Om Prakash has spoken to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, TK Rajendran following the attack on the restaurant, urging security for Kannadigas in the state.  Tamil Nadu police have promised to provide security to Karnataka establishments in the state.

On Sunday, a Kannada literature meet was cancelled in Coimbatore after activists of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam disrupted the event.

Transport services disrupted

Interstate buses between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have been stopped by both the state corporations.

In Bengaluru, BMTC buses have reduced their frequency. Metro services were also temporarily suspended following reports of violence. Vasanth Rao, PRO of BMRCL said metro services will resume only after clearance from the police. 

Appeals for peace and calm

But despite tempers flying on both sides of the border, appeals for peace and calm are coming in from the sparring states as well as from outside.

Karnataka Home Minister Parameshwara appealed to the people to maintain peace, stating, "Injustice has been done to us but protest peacefully."

Hitting out at the Karnataka government for citing unrest as a reason for seeking modification of its earlier order, the Supreme Court observed, “Citizens cannot become a law unto themselves. It is the duty of the executive to see orders followed in letter and spirt.” 

The Bengaluru City Police also tweeted asking people to help maintain peace and harmony in the city. 

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