Section 144 has been imposed in Bengaluru following massive protests in the state of Karnataka on Monday, over Supreme Court’s order to release more water to neighbour Tamil Nadu from Cauvery River.
At least half-a-dozen vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers have been set ablaze in Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Though no casualties have been reported, tension prevailed on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway with mobs targeting Tamil Nadu trucks+ and cars. Traffic on the highway too came to a standstill as farmers’ organisations and Kannada activists staged rasta-roko agitations.
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According to police sources, a family travelling in a multi-utility vehicle was pulled out in Mysuru and their vehicle was set ablaze. In Bengaluru, a truck was set on fire in Timber Yard Layout while miscreants went on a stone-throwing spree in Yelahanka and Anekal.
Several trucks, school buses and bus stands have been set on fire by the pro-Kannada protestors in west Bengaluru.
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.
The Bengaluru metro services were also completely shut down as a precautionary measure.
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The pro-Kannada activists today gheraoed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Karnataka and announced to launch ‘rail roko agitation’ in the state from September 15.