Cauvery water protests: More than 20 buses torched; one killed in police firing in Bengaluru, curfew imposed

Sporadic violence broke out in Bengaluru and in some other parts of Karnataka amid the raging Cauvery water sharing row, with the Siddaramaiah government asking Tamil Nadu to protect Kannadigas and assuring to safeguard Tamils in the state. Trucks with Tamil Nadu registration numbers were either stoned or set on fire in Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, Chitradurga and Dharwad districts as Kannada activists gave vent to their anger over alleged attacks on state vehicles and property of Kannadigas in the neighbouring state.

Also Read: Public transport bears the brunt as Cauvery water war between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka rages

Here are the live updates:

#WATCH: More than 20 buses set on fire by protesters in #Bengaluru's KPN bus depot #CauveryProtests pic.twitter.com/akqL7MDghr

— ANI (@ANI_news) September 12, 2016

#Curfew imposed in 7 police limits of ngaluru: Umesh Kumar, IGP, Bengaluru

#One killed another injured in police firing in Karnataka amid protests over sharing Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu

#Protesters pelt stones at the residence of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah in Mysuru

#More than 20 buses set on fire by protesters in Bengaluru's KPN bus depot

#Agitated protesters in Bengaluru break camera of a private news channel, also hit the reporter

#Tomorrow at 11:30 AM, K'taka CM has called emergency Cabinet meet to discuss #CauveryIssue:  Karnataka HM G Parameshwara

#10 companies of CRPF & RAF have been sent. We have also requested for 10 more companies: Karnataka HM G Parameshwara

#Have deployed sufficient amount of police force. We have got support from Centre: Karnataka HM

#Our appeal is if you are protesting, please protest peacefully. We know that injustice has been done to Karnataka: HM Parameshwara

#Saying "we will fight it legally", Karnataka HM G Parameshwara requests pro-Kannada activists and farmers associations to maintain peace

Public transport bears the brunt as Cauvery water war between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka rages>

#CRPF, RPF, CISF delpoyed. Apart from this, 20,000 homeguards and 185 KSRP platoons have also been deployed: Karnataka HM

#Vandals set fire to vehicle with Tamil Nadu number plate in Mysuru Road, Bengaluru

#Section 144 CrPC has also been imposed in Pandavapura area: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara

#200 protesters who were involved in such acts in the state, have been detained: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara

#Cauvery Supervisory Committee meeting postponed for September 19

#As a preventive measure, Section 144 CrPC imposed in Bengaluru City from 5 PM, today: Bengaluru Police

#It's normal for ppl in this situation to get excited, but I request ppl of K’taka that they should maintain peace, law and order: S Gowda

#We thought SC will send a team to see situations of reservoirs,collect data &then come to a conclusion, but nothing as such happened: S Gowda

#People of Karnataka never expected such a verdict from SC: Union Minister Sadananda Gowda on #CauveryProtests

At least six Tamil Nadu trucks were set on fire or stoned and a Chennai-based mobile shop and two hotels were attacked in Bengaluru, police said, as activists of different pro-Kannada outfits took to the streets. Bengaluru police said prohibitory orders had not been imposed in any part of the city and asked people not to pay heed to rumours.

Protests turn violent in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu>

Elaborate security arrangements are in place in Bengaluru city with 15,000 policemen being deployed. 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 and 3000 home guards are also on duty.

In Mandya district, the main epicentre of the Cauvery agitation, two trucks were set ablaze and the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway was blocked after the Supreme court order came out.

Police made a lathicharge to disperse a violent mob, which tried to loot some shops. Several vehicles with Tamil Nadu registration number were damaged on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, police said. 

The violence also flared up shortly after the Supreme Court, modifying its September 5 order, on Monday asked Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

What happened in Supreme Court

The Supreme court on Monday modified its September 5 order, asking Karnataka to release a reduced amount of 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water per day to Tamil Nadu till September 20 from the earlier 15,000 cusecs a day to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighbouring state.

A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and UU Lalit, which sat on a holiday to consider the urgent plea of Karnataka, however, expressed deep anguish over the "tone and tenor" of the fresh plea and said the law and order situation cannot be taken as a ground for non-compliance of the order of the court.

It rejected one of the prayers of Karnataka that the apex court direction asking it to release 15,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu be kept in abeyance till next date of hearing on the ground that there has been a fault in the Cauvery Water Tribunal award, which does not deal with the issue of deficient water in the reservoir in a particular month.

Referring to the content of Karnataka's fresh plea, the bench said, "If we are allowed to say then we must say that the tone and tenor of the application is absolutely disturbing and to say the least, totally depricable that apart the application for modification contain certain averment which follow the tenor or similar language which cannot be conceived of in a court of law seeking modification of an order."

"Agitation, spontaneity or galvanised riot or any kind of catalystic component can never form the foundation for seeking modification of an order."

"An order of this court has to be complied by all the concerned and it is the obligation of the executive to ensure that the orders are complied in letter and spirit."

Protests by farmers have been reported from several parts of Karnataka over the Supreme Court order asking it to release water to Tamil Nadu.

During the hearing, the bench noted the stiff claim and counter-claims of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and said that it would apply the concept of fair compensation in the matter and fixed it for further hearing on September 20.

The apex court was hearing the application filed by Karnataka seeking a direction to reduce the quantum of water to be released from Cauvery River to Tamil Nadu from 15,000 cusecs to 1,000 cusecs.

Violent protests in Tamiil Nadu, Karnataka

Voicing concern over attacks on state vehicles and a hotel run by a native of Karnataka in Tamil Nadu amid the ongoing Cauvery row, the state government on Monday asked its counterpart to take steps for the safety of Kannadigas living there and to protect their property.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would write to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa to help cooperate in maintaining cordiality between the states, which are now locked in a bitter row over release of Cauvery water. Siddaramaiah said he would also speak to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, if necessary, on the incidents targetting Kannadigas.

The state Chief Secretary and Director General of Police had spoken to their Tamil Nadu counterparts and asked them to ensure stern action against the culprits and that such incidents did not recur, Siddaramaiah told reporters here.

While seeking measures to protect the interests of Kannadigas in Tamil Nadu, it had been assured to Tamil Nadu that similarly, steps would be taken for the safety of Tamils in the state and also their property, he said.

Siddaramaiah also advised the media "not to glorify" certain incidents relating to "sensitive" issues and be restrained in reporting them.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said police forces had been deployed in areas where Tamils live in large numbers in Bengaluru and elsewhere in Karnataka. "We have taken precautions."

He appealed to people of both states not to resort to violence. The state DGP had conveyed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart that safety of Kannadigas be ensured while "equally, we will also ensure that Tamils are safe in Karnataka," he said.

Asked about a Tamil engineering student being beaten up allegedly by a group of people here for posting 'derogatory' remarks against some Kannada actors and against the Cauvery agitation, with a video capturing the incident going viral, he said it was a "small incident".

Parameshwara said the police tried to contact the student but he was not available, adding, "small incidents should not be blown out of proportion."

Suspected pro-Tamil protesters on Monday attacked and damaged a hotel run by a native of Karnataka in Chennai, damaging its window panes using iron rods and wooden logs.

The incident occurred during the wee hours on Monday when the group of protesters gathered around the hotel situated in Mylapore and damaged its window panes using iron rods and wooden logs, police said adding that no one was injured.

The incident comes a day after a video purportedly showing a 22-year-old Tamil youth being beaten by a group of men in Bengalur for allegedly posting "derogatory" remarks on social media against Kannada film actors went viral.

Seven tourist vehicles bearing Karnataka registration parked at a temple in Rameswaram were damaged allegedly by activists of various outfits including Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam.

Meanwhile, Bangalore Tamil Sangam on Monday asked Siddaramaiah to direct the police to maintain law and order and provide security to?all Tamils living in the state.

"We request you to kindly instruct the police to maintain law and order and provide security to all Tamilians living in the state," Sangam President Damodaran said.

He also urged the media, especially visual, not to "incite" people of both the states by sensationalising the news of violence. He urged the central government to intervene to solve the vexed problem.

Protests by farmers and pro-Kannada outfits have been reported from several parts of the neighbouring state over the Supreme Court order asking Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Committee on quantum of Cauvery water

The Cauvery Supervisory Committee, headed by Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar, on Monday met in New Delhi to decide on the quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu and other states after September 20. "The committee will decide on the quantum of water to be released after September 20," an official said.

Besides Shekhar, the meeting was attended by officials of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry governments. The meeting comes in the backdrop of the apex court on September 5 asking Tamil Nadu to approach the committee over the issue.

Karnataka govt's plea

The apex court's decision to hear the plea, filed late Saturday evening, came after it was mentioned before the court's registry, which consulted Chief Justice T S Thakur.

In its plea, Karnataka has sought modification of the apex court's September 5 order for release of 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days as immediate relief to Tamil Nadu farmers.

The application has sought that instead of 10 days,  the apex court should restrict the release of water to only 6 as the state itself was facing a distress situation due to a massive agitation which was causing a loss of Rs 500 crore per day to Karnataka.

SC's order on Sept 5 on Cauvery row

In an interim order on September 5, the court had directed Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 10 days to ameliorate the plight of the farmers there.

The apex court had also directed Tamil Nadu to approach Supervisory Committee, set up to implement the award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, within three days for release of water as per the final order of the CWDT.