Cauvery crisis: Violence breaks out in Bengaluru, Mysuru; Metro services suspended

BENGALURU: Violence erupted in southern part of Karnataka on Monday after the Supreme Court directed the state government to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. 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.

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.

The miscreants alleged that the Supreme Court's directive to release 12 cusecs of water till September 20 would worsen the water crisis facing the state.

They also maintained that that the attack on vehicles was also a retaliation to the assault on tourists from Karnataka in the temple town of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu on Monday morning.

Metro train services suspended

Namma Metro train services have been temporarily suspended in Bengaluru following few incidents of violence in the city.



In a recent tweet, UA Vasanth Rao, chief public relations officer, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has said, "Due to disturbance in the city due to Cauvery issue, train service has been temporarily suspended".


Chief minister Siddaramaiah has appealed to the people not to provoke and get provoked by mischief-mongers.