Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has called for an emergency meeting on Tuesday morning after chaos descended on many parts of Bengaluru as the Cauvery water war with Tamil Nadu turned ugly.
One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Karnataka as protests turned violent in the state. Nearly 200 trucks and 50 buses from Tamil Nadu were torched in Bengaluru
Curfew has been imposed at several places in Bengaluru including Rajgopal Nagar, Vijaynagar, Kengeri and Rajajinagar. Section 144 of CrPC has also been imposed all across the city.
As violence broke out sending a wave of panic across Bengaluru, the city was brought under prohibitory orders till September 14.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "200 people have been detained. We have deployed forces at central points. We have taken atmost precautions. We have written a letter to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa."
As the situation continues to be tense across Bengaluru, the police are now bringing in additional forces including paramilitary forces across the city to maintain calm.
"Situation is tense but under control. All officers are on the road and we are deploying paramilitary forces. 20 paramilitary companies are being deployed," Inspector General of Police Umesh Kumar said.
Incidents of arson came even as police said they have made elaborate security arrangements with 15,000 policemen being deployed, bolstered by Karnataka State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve Police, Rapid Action Force, Quick Reaction Teams, special forces, Central Industrial Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force.
In view of the deteriorating situation, the Centre rushed 10 companies (about 1,000 personnel) of the special anti-riot paramilitary force RAF to Karnataka.
Widespread violence erupted on Monday in Bengaluru and some other parts of Karnataka, while sporadic trouble was witnessed in Tamil Nadu following Supreme Court's modified order on sharing Cauvery water by the two riparian states.
Soon after the apex court gave its amended order, directing Karnataka to release 12000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till September 20, violence and arson flared up in Bengaluru, with rampaging mobs setting afire at least 30 vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu number plates.
A prominent transport company depot in the city bore the brunt with at least 30 buses going up in flames.
Managing Director of Salem headquartered KPN Tours and Travels Limited Rajesh Natarajan claimed in Chennai 40 of his buses were set on fire.
Describing the violence in Karnataka as alarming, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to her Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah, seeking protection for Tamil speaking people and their property, hours after he had made a similar plea to her.
Jayalalithaa assured Siddaramaiah that safety of people from Karnataka will be ensured in Tamil Nadu.
As Bengaluru continues to burn on day 2, Kerala has sent 100 policemen to Karnataka to evacuate residents who are stuck in Bengaluru ahead of Onam. Officials said that they will accompany vehicles bound to Kerala till the Karnataka Border. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has appealed to Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu to run two special trains between Karnataka and Kerala to help people reach home safely for Onam.
Congress leader Dinesh Gundurao defended the Siddaramiah government saying that situation has gone out of control due to the Supreme Court verdict and not due to the failure of the state government.
The Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, on Monday asked Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu till September 20.
In its September 5 order, the apex court had directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighbouring state, which had triggered strong protests from farmers and pro-Kannada outfits with Karnataka observing a bandh against it on September 9.
In Delhi, the Cauvery Supervisory Committee also met but failed to arrive at a decision on quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu and other states pursuant to the Supreme Court order and decided to meet again on September 19.
(With additional information from PTI)
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