Cauvery water sharing row: Siddaramaiah to write to Jayalalithaa, appeal for calm

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah is expected to write a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa in view of ongoing violent protests and attacks on Kannadigas in the AIADMK-ruled state over Cauvery river water sharing issue.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to write a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa in view of ongoing violent protests and attacks on Kannadigas in the latter's state over Cauvery river water sharing issue.

The Karnataka government has decided to appeal for calm in view of reports that a group of unidentified assailants attacked the New Woodlands Hotel in Mylapore over the ongoing Cauvery water row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

At least four people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the hotel.

"Around 3.15 am, a group came to the hotel and damaged glass panels. It seems the group attacked the hotel in protest against Karnataka's attitude in release of Cauvery river water," a police official told IANS.

A hotel employee confirmed the incident, adding that no person was injured in the attack.

A written note was also found at the New Woodlands hotel which warned of more attacks if Tamilians are assaulted in Karnataka.

Protests by pro-Tamil groups against the Karnataka government were reported from several parts of Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, protests against the apex court order over Cauvery river water sharing also continued in Karnataka.

Metro services in Bengaluru were temporarily suspended following incidence of violence in the city

On Friday, there was shut down in Karnataka protesting the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, today modified its September 5 order and asked Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs instead of 15,000 cusecs Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

The apex court also expressed anguish over "tone and tenor" of Karnataka's plea, says law and order problem can't be ground for not complying with its order.

The order came after the Karnataka government on Saturday evening requested for an urgent hearing over the dispute.

The police have made elaborate security arrangements across Cauvery basin districts including Bengaluru.