The number of injured are expected to go up, according to media reports. Three companies of RAF, comprising 100 personnel each, and an all-woman CRPF company have already been deployed in Karnataka. Demonstrations were held outside branches of Karnataka Bank.
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Widespread violence broke out in southern Karnataka on Monday over the apex court order to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, with angry Kannadiga protesters torching over 30 buses of a Tamil-owned bus depot in Bengaluru.
“We have taken precautions and put in additional security at sensitive locations, where the Tamil population is located”, said Parameshwara. They pulled several Tamil Naduregistered trucks and motorcycles to the side of the road and pelted them with stones. Meanwhile, Rajesh Natarajan, managing director of Salem-headquartered KPN Tours and Travels, claimed in Chennai that around 40 of his buses were set on fire.
The statement said the committee that met on Monday took a detailed presentation from the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry and the representative from Kerala. “I request you to take immediate and effective action to provide all necessary protection and security to ensure that no harm is caused to the person and property of Tamil speaking people in Karnataka”.
Bengaluru police said prohibitory orders had not been imposed in any part of the city and asked people not to pay heed to rumours.
As tension spread across the city, Metro and BMTC suspended services, adding to the confusion. “We urge to all Bengalurians.Stay calm and not to panic”.
Thousands of parents, who were at their workplace or home, had a tough time reaching schools as traffic grew worse in the afternoon as many professionals started heading home early.
Offices were shut down in areas where violence was reported and employees rushed homes.
So the easy targets of their anger are vehicles from Tamil Nadu, Tamil films, eateries with distinct Tamil names and the Tamils living in large numbers in Bangalore and Kolar district.
“Despite very provocative incidents that are taking place in Karnataka, absolute restraint has been observed in Tamil Nadu”, said Jayalalithaa. Farmers of delta districts in Tamil Nadu have announced protests on September 20 demanding Cauvery water.
“We expect the inhabitants of both the states, namely, the state of Karnataka and state of Tamil Nadu, shall behave regard being had to the respect for law and order and the executive of both the states are under the constitutional obligation to see that the law and order prevails”, it said.
In 1991, an interim court order telling Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu sparked riots against Tamils in Bangalore, leaving more than 18 people dead.
The violence erupted after India’s Supreme Court ordered Karnataka state, where Bangalore is based, to release 12,000 cubic feet of water per second every day from the Cauvery river to neighbouring Tamil Nadu until Sept 20.
The Cauvery Supervisory Committee failed to arrive at a decision on quantum of water to be released pursuant to the Supreme Court order and chose to meet again on September 19.
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It also rejected Karnataka’s plea to keep the September 5 order in abeyance.
