On September 12, sporadic protests broke out in parts of Bengaluru over the Supreme Court’s order asking Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
In the violence that ensued, many business establishments owned by Tamils as well as vehicles that bore Tamil Nadu registrations were vandalized and some were set on fire.
The Bengaluru police arrested 1277 protesters in connection with the agitation that broke out in the city, in as many as 219 cases. The protesters have been booked under various sections of the IPC including criminal intimidation, rioting, attempt to murder, voluntarily causing hurt, damage by fire or explosive substance and unlawful assembly among others.
However, not all the arrested are likely to be convicted. A city court granted bail to a few protesters who were booked for attempt to murder.
Kiran Parashar KM reports for The New Indian Express that many protesters who have been booked may walk out of jail for the lack of evidence against them.
“Though we have booked cases under several sections of IPC, while submitting the charge sheets, some of the sections will be omitted if we are not able to collect substantial evidence,” the report quotes a police official as saying.
Senior Advocate MT Nanaiah points out that the state might even withdraw cases against people who are booked for non-serious offences.
“The fact that the protest was held in the interest of the state is what prompts the authorities to withdraw the case,” he told TNIE.