Mysuru/Mandya, Sep 13: Violent protests erupted in the Cauvery basin districts, mainly Mandya and Mysuru, on Monday as protesters torched and attacked vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration number, and even the occupants.
The deteriorating law and order situation forced authorities to clamp prohibitory orders in Mandya and Mysuru cities. The police resorted to mild caning and used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters in several areas.
Holiday for schools
A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Mandya district till September 17. The sale of liquor has been banned till September 18.
Protesters blocked the main Mysuru-Bengaluru national highway and the alternative route, the Bengaluru-Kanakapura-Kollegal-Dindigul highway, at several places. The seven routes to Tamil Nadu that originate in Chamarajanagar district were blocked by protesters near the border.
KSRTC buses to Tamil Nadu have been withdrawn in all the four Cauvery basin districts of Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Hassan.
Cauvery Raitha Hitharakshana Samiti president G Madegowda said protests will continue till water is released to Tamil Nadu. The peaceful mode of protest adopted by the samiti has not gone down well with several agitators as they later ransacked the protest venue.
As agitators went on a rampage ransacking several shops in Pandavapura town of Mandya district, the police managed to rescue a driver of a lorry that was torched by a mob.
The residence of Justice C Shivappa, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, at Pattasomanahalli in Pandavapura taluk was also attacked.
The retired judge, however, was not at home. Reports stated that Justice C Shivappa was targeted as he had given a verdict favouring Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Security has been beefed up at the Tamil Colony in Mandya city, and in Srirangapatna, the police provided security to 30 labourers from Tamil Nadu.
In Mysuru city, agitators torched a tourist cab and a truck transporting vegetables at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee yard. Posters of Rajinikanth were also disfigured.
A tanker was attacked at Hullahalli in Nanjangud taluk and two persons have been arrested in this connection.
In Hassan, protesters threw stones at the Precot Meridian Cotton Factory, a unit of a Tamil Nadu-based company. The police took 11 people into custody in this connection.
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