A day-long protest shutdown is being observed at Mandya town in Karnataka against releasing of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu on the Supreme Court’s directive to the state government. Police commissioner NS Megharik told CNN-News 18 that one unit of the Rapic Action Force (RAF), 36 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP), 30 units of Armed Reserve Forces (RAF) and 260 Hoysala units will be deployed across the city to control the law and order situation.
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Mock funerals of state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Jayalalithaa were conducted in Bengaluru, Mandya, Davangere and Tumakuru. The state’s principal opposition BJP has also supported Karnataka bandh. The city remains paralysed as no mode of transport is running today.
Fending off the criticism of the legal team headed by Fali Nariman, the sources defended it, stating their advice on release was made so that the state succeeds when the main petition comes up for hearing before the court on October 18. Bengaluru’s metro has suspended functioning for the day.
The protestors were detained by the police later. Educational institutions had declared a holiday. Attendance at government offices is also low as employees were informed that it was not “compulsory” to come to work today.
Big IT companies in Bengaluru – Wipro, Infosys and other multinationals have declared a holiday. Shops and establishments, markets, petrol bunks, hotels and malls are likley to remain shut, besides banks.
Tamil channels will not be aired with Karnataka Cable Operators Association supporting the bandh.
Protests have been reported from several parts of the state including Bengaluru, Kolar, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, as also from few northern districts.
In Mandya, agitated farmers and activists belonging to pro-Kannada outfits have blocked Bengaluru-Mysore Highway.
A section of farmers in the district staged a protest by venturing into the river carrying stones on their head. Tamil Nadu had sought release of 50.52 thousand million cubic feet (Tmc ft) of water for the farmers. TB Jaychandra, Karnataka law minister, appealed to the public not to take law and order in their hands and to maintain peace. “Hope 2 states resolve dispute amicably”, tweeted Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw on Friday morning.
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Police security being provided to Karnataka buses at Koyambedu bus stand, even as crew members take rest due to non-operation of services.
