Cauvery water war: Schools, metro services closed, vehicles set on fire; Sec 144 imposed in Bengaluru

Violence erupted in southern part of Karnataka after the Supreme Court directed the state govt to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Police on Monday imposed Section 144 CrPC in the city with effect from 5 pm after several pro-Kannada supporters created a law and order situation, protesting against Supreme Court's verdict in which it ordered Karnataka to release at least 12,000 cusecs water to Tamil Nadu. 

As a preventive measure, Section 144CrPC is imposed in Bengaluru City from 1700 hours today. @BlrCityPolice @blrcitytraffic

— Abhishek Goyal (@goyal_abhei) September 12, 2016

As a preventive measure, Section 144CrPC is imposed in Bengaluru City from 1700 hours today. @BlrCityPolice @blrcitytraffic — Abhishek Goyal (@goyal_abhei) September 12, 2016

A massive violence broke out in parts of Bengaluru today in the wake of Cauvery water dispute that escalated between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu today. 

Several trucks, school buses, and bus stands have been set on fire by the pro-Kannada protestors in the west Bengaluru. 

Karnataka: Pro-Kannada activists stage protest in Yadgir over #CauveryIssue pic.twitter.com/W3W2vjcUVV — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

#CauveryIssue: Protesters vandalise lorries bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers near Hubli Bypass, Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/sl9nkp70IP — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

The city police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the agitators at Satellite bus stand on the Mysore road. Several TV reports said schools and colleges shut down voluntarily, sending students back home. 

A number of school buses are said to have been stranded in parts of Bengaluru. Massive traffic jams are also being reported from different parts of the city. 

WATCH: Pro-Kannada activists set a vehicle on fire in #Bengaluru during protests over #CauveryIssue. pic.twitter.com/hDTuNZULd1 — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

The city administration also shut down Bengaluru metro services completely as a precautionary measure. 

The pro-Kannada activists today gheraoed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Karnataka and announced to launch 'rail roko agitation' in the state from September 15.

In the meanwhile, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and at least 15,000 police personnel have been deployed in large number across the city to control the violence as Cauvery water tension escalated between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu after Supreme Court's latest verdict today.

The twitter handle of CM Siddaramaiah said that the Karnataka CM today wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa and appealed her to ensure the safety of Kannadigas in her state.

Letter written to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu pic.twitter.com/GMSM0A437U — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) September 12, 2016

The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) today suspended all bus services to Tamil Nadu while police jeeps were positioned along the border to warn vehicles against entering that state.

In Nayandahalli, a few vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration number were reportedly set on fire by protestors who were shouting anti-Tamil Nadu slogans. 

In Chamarajanagar, a truck bearing Tamil Nadu registration number was stoned by miscreants. According to another report, Tamil residents of Pandavapura have also been reportedly attacked by a group of attackers.

In afternoon today, four cadres of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazagam were arrested on charges of vandalizing a Karnataka-based hotel in the city.

A group of pro-Tamil activists attacked the New Woodlands Hotel in Chennai over the ongoing Cauvery water row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the wee hours today.

The hotel staff told media that at least six petrol bombs were hurled by the activists at the restaurant, which is owned by Krishna Rao, a Karnataka citizen.

The attack happened when at least 10 men entered the hotel and shouted slogans against Karnataka. They damaged tables and other property of the restaurant, and also damaged window panels.

The security personnel were at the hotel at the time of the attack but no one came forward to stop the attackers. 

Before vacating the attack site, the attackers left a one-page note, which said that if Tamils were targeted in Karnataka, petrol bombs would continue to be thrown at Karnataka-based establishments in Tamil Nadu.

There are also reports of several Karnataka vehicles being attacked by pro-Tamil activists in Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu today. 

Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu): Bus from Karnataka vandalised by Naam Tamilar Katchi party workers #CauveryIssue pic.twitter.com/UI2UA9jX9z — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

Naam Tamilar Katchi party workers today vandalised a bus in Rameswaram. As per the report, the party goons assaulted the bus driver and threatened him for ferrying Kannadigas even when the state is facing protest from Karnataka over the release of Cauvery water.

Rameswaram(TN): Bus from Karnataka vandalised by Naam Tamilar Katchi party workers, driver threatened #CauveryIssue pic.twitter.com/r7uwOddWkv — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

Goons in Rameshwaram beat up driver asking for information if he was ferrying Kannadigas. #CauveryIssue pic.twitter.com/nnXce18jn7 — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

The developments come a day after a video showing a Tamil Nadu youth being assaulted by a group of boys in Karnataka went viral on social media. A 22-year-old was hauled up in Bengaluru yesterday by a gang for his social media posts that criticised Kannada film stars over ongoing Cauvery water war with Tamil Nadu. No action has so far been taken on the matter.

Meanwhile, a report of counter attacks being taken place in Karnataka has emerged. According to CNN-News18, several Tamil Nadu-run lorries and cabs came under attacks from a group of miscreants in Bapuji Nagar of Bengaluru district of Karnataka.

Six shops run by Tamilians were also ransacked in Mandya district this morning.

On the other hand, in a major development, the Supreme Court today modified its previous ruling on sharing of Cauvery river water and directed the Karnataka government to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu daily till September 20.

The apex court passed the order in response to an appeal filed by the Karnataka government seeking a direction to reduce the quantum of water to be released from Cauvery river to Tamil Nadu from 15,000 cusecs to 10,000 cusecs.

The apex court, however, expressed its displeasure over non-implementation of its earlier order on Cauvery water sharing by the Karnataka government.

#WATCH: Bus from Karnataka vandalised by Naam Tamilar Katchi party workers in Rameswaram, driver threatened #Cauvery pic.twitter.com/3til65O5jU — ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016