Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today assured Tamil Sangam of protection for Tamils in the state in the wake of violence in the city following a Supreme Court direction to release 12000 cusecs of Cauvery water everyday for next ten days to Tamil Nadu.

Siddaramaiah also informed the Sangam leaders, who met him at his residence, that a suo motu case has been filed against culprits who had assaulted a youth Santosh Deena for posting comments on Cauvery issue on Facebook on September 10.

A suo motu case has been filed against the persons who had assaulted Santosh, Sangam President George Damodaran told reporters here.

The youth was allegedly beaten up by culprits as he had questioned Kannada film stars for protesting over Cauvery issue.

Siddaramaiah also asked the Sangam leaders to petition Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to give protection to Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu, Damodaran said.

“We are petitioning the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister via email,” he said.

The Chief Minister has directed the police to maintain law and order and provide security to Tamils living in the state, the Sangam President said.

Damodaran said he also brought to the notice of the chief minister the “provocative” statement of Narayana Gowda who is heading ‘Karnataka Rakshana Vedike’.

Gowda had reportedly said the situation that prevailed in 1991 should prevail and all Tamil films should be stopped from screening to teach them lesson.

In 1991, during Bangarappa’s tenure as chief minister, anti-Tamil violence had taken place in Bengaluru in which 18 people had died and hundreds fled.

Cauvery row: Violence erupts in Bengaluru, 1 killed in firing, curfew imposed

Bengaluru/Chennai: One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Karnataka as the Cauvery water sharing row with Tamil Nadu turned violent today, escalating tensions between the two states.

As Bangalore witnessed widespread violence bringing it on the edge, night curfew was imposed in 16 police station limits late tonight.

Police said Rajgopal Nagar, Kamakshipalya, Vijaynagar, Byatarayanpura Kengeri, Magadi Road, Rajajinagar, RR Nagara, KP Agrahara Chandra layout, Yeshwanathapura, Mahalakshmi layout, Peenya, RMC Yard, Nandini Layout and Jnanabharathi are under curfew.

Widespread violence erupted today in Bangaluru 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.

Police opened fire when a mob tried to attack a patrol vehicle at Hegganahalli in Rajagopal Nagar police limits as violence flared up in Bengaluru city with rampaging mobs setting fire to buses and trucks with Tamil Nadu registration plates.

“Two were brought with bullet injuries. One with bullet injury near the heart has died. The other is being operated for injury on right thigh,” Dr. Giridhar, Managing Director of Lakshmi Multi-Speciality Hospital, where they were taken told PTI tonight.

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.

As violence broke out sending a wave of panic across Bengaluru, the city was brought under prohibitory orders till September 14.

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.

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.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also called up Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu tonight and assured them all central assistance in handling the law and order situation.

After Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spoke to Singh, an official statement issued in Bengaluru described the situation as “fully under control”.

The Union Home Minister responded “positively” to the request for additional central forces, it said.

Describing the violence in Karnataka as alarming, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to 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.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said government did not expect the protest to go to this extent.

“We expected that if the decision goes against us, there will be some protest, but definitely not to this extent.”

He said 200 people been detained in connection with the violence.

He said forces have been deployed at sensitive points, particularly where Tamil population and establishments are located.

Trucks with Tamil Nadu registration number plate were either stoned or set on fire also in Mandya, Mysuru, Chitradurga and Dharwad districts as Kannada activists gave vent to their anger over attacks on state vehicles and property of Kannadigas in the neighbouring state and also against the apex court’s modified order.

The Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, today asked Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

In its September five 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 nine.

Parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry too saw protests by fringe outfits, with some commercial and government establishments of Karnataka coming under attack, in an apparent retaliation for happenings in Karnataka.

As the Centre rushed 10 companies (about 1,000 personnel) of the special anti-riot paramilitary force RAF to Karnataka, officials said, if need arises, some of these personnel will also be deployed in Tamil Nadu.

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.

Earlier, voicing concern over violence against Kannada speaking people and their properties in Tamil Nadu over the past two days, Siddaramaiah wrote to Jayalalithaa to ensure adequate safety and protection to Kannada speaking people in Tamil Nadu.

PTI