Border bandh: Vatal Paksha blocks NH-209

The border bandh (Gadi bandh) called by Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj to stage a protest at Punajanur on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border on Tuesday was foiled by the police.

The police had deputed additional forces in Chikkahole, 20 km from Punajanur, as a precaution to prevent protesters from passing through the checkpost.

Vatal Nagaraj and his supporters were on their way to Punajanur, when the police stopped them from going beyond Chikkahole. Vatal Nagaraj, who opposed the police’s move, staged a protest on NH-209 along with his supporters. Police took more than 20 protesters into custody as a precautionary measure and released them later.

Vatal Nagaraj alleged that the elected representatives are not concerned about the Cauvery and Mahadayi issues. The government should not release water to Tamil Nadu at any cost, he stressed.

He demanded a probe into the recent violence that rocked Bengaluru and punishment for the guilty. Film producer Sa Ra Govindu, who also took part in the protest said, “The Supreme Court order has meted out injustice to the people of Karnataka. The MPs and Central ministers are silent on the issue and the Prime Minister is not willing to intervene to solve the row amicably.”