JOIN USProtests continue in Mysuru, but no violence
Life in Mysuru, on Tuesday, was limping back to normalcy after violence erupted over the Cauvery river water dispute on Monday.
However, a majority of the shops in parts of the city remained close while pro-Kannada activists continued their protests. Due to the prohibitory orders in force and Bakrid holiday, movement of both vehicles and people was sparse.
A Tamil film unit that was shooting at the Lalitha Mahal Palace had to pack-up, as a few Kannada activists stormed the venue. Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike intercepted the shooting of a remake of Kannada movie ‘Shivalinga’. The activists damaged the posters, banners, flags and also asked the crew not to shoot the movie. The police pacified activists and sent the 70-member crew out of the hotel.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dr H T Shekar rushed to the spot. The police have filed a case against eight activists, while two of them have been arrested.
A 33-year-old IT professional Shivakumar, staged a lone protest in front of the Gandhi bust in front the district court complex. He urged the IT and BT professionals to join the agitation over the Cauvery issue.
Members of Kannada Kriya Samithi staged a protest against attack on Kannada-speaking people in Tamil Nadu and also raised slogans against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.They alleged that Tamil people were responsible for the violence that erupted in parts of the state on Monday. The activists also urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stop the release of water to Tamil Nadu immediately. The police stopped them from holding a protest due to the ban orders. City Police Commissioner B Dayananda has extended the prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 in the city till Wednesday midnight.
A few pro-Kannada activists forced the shopkeepers in parts of the city to down the shutters. Some pro-Kannada activists made an attempt to lay a siege to Sri Ram Gold Loans office. Soon, the Devaraja Police arrived on the spot and dispersed the agitators.
Prayer for rains
Mysuru Zilla Brahamana Yuva Vedike members offered special prayers, puja and performed homa at Amruteshwara temple in the city. The youths, holding portraits of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, Sir M Visvesvaraya and goddess Cauvery, sought good rains in the catchment area.
Mysuru City Police sent all vehicles belonging to Tamil Nadu back on Monday night under tight security. The police had taken a few vehicles into custody as a precautionary measure after a lorry was set on fire at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) yard on Monday. DCF N Rudramuni said, “All vehicles were dropped till Chamarajanagar border last night with escort. District Police had also provided security.”