Cauvery water row: Do not give scope for rumours, Karnataka Home Minister tells people

After Supreme Court modified its earlier order on Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, violence erupted in areas of both states on Monday.

Protesters targeted vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers and set them on fire. They also vandalised trucks near Hubli bypass in Karnataka. (Source: Reuters)

In the midst of violence in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu due to the Cauvery water dispute, Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara today asked citizens to be alert and to not follow rumours, urging them to cooperate with the police and maintain peace and order.

A statement released by the Bengaluru City Police, from the Home Minister, said, “Do not give scope for rumours. Do not behave against law..Please cooperate with police in maintaining public peace and order.”

After Supreme Court modified its earlier order on Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, violence erupted in areas of both states on Monday.  The Supreme Court directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu instead of 15,000 till September 20.

People came out on streets to protest and many vehicles were damaged and set on fire by an enraged mob. This led to suspension of bus services in Tamil Nadu and Section 144 was imposed in parts of Bengaluru city.

Bengaluru police imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC from 5 pm on Monday. However, protesters gathered in large numbers at various points in the city and attacked Tamil Nadu-registration vehicles. Reports of torching of vehicles also emerged from Mandya district. A shop belonging to a Tamil family in Pandavapura was attacked, police said.

Early signs of violence were evident when veteran leader of the Kannada Chaluvali Paksha, Vatal Nagaraj — who heads a collective of pro-Kannada groups agitating over the Cauvery issue — warned of retaliatory attacks. Later, Nagaraj met Siddaramaiah.

The pro-Kannada groups have proposed a padayatra from Bengaluru to Mysuru on Tuesday, and a rail roko has been planned by activists led by Nagaraj on September 15.