More than 20 protesters were detained after members of the Kannada Jagruthi Vedike attempted to block the highway at the Attibele border during the Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute
on Thursday.
The protesters staged a road blockade at around 8 am and warned the Tamil Nadu government against obstructing the implementation of the Mekedatu project.
Led by the organisation’s state president Manjunath Deva, the protesters took out a march from the Attibele toll to the state border and raised slogans against the Tamil Nadu government.
More than 20 protesters, including Manjunath Deva, were taken into police custody after they attempted to block the highway at the Attibele border.
As a precautionary measure, police security was deployed at the border. An Additional SP, three inspectors and around 50 police personnel were deployed in the area.
Bengaluru Police Appeal For Peace
Bengaluru City Police have appealed to citizens and organisations to remain calm and cooperate during the Karnataka bandh over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
The police said that while several organisations have extended their support to the bandh, some groups have decided not to participate.
Prominent Factions Opt Out
Prominent factions of the federation of Kannada organisations have opted out of the bandh, citing improved inflows into reservoirs and assurances from the state government that it would seek the intervention of the Supreme Court.
However, the factions said they would extend their “moral support to Nagaraj’s fight”.
“We support Vatal Nagaraj’s struggle, but under tomorrow’s circumstances, we are not in a position to support the bandh”, Praveen Shetty, who heads one of the factions of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, told reporters, PTI reported.
The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing inter-state river water-sharing conflict between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The dispute centres on the sharing of Cauvery River waters, particularly during periods of low rainfall.
The Mekedatu balancing reservoir project proposed by Karnataka has been a major point of contention between the two states. Tamil Nadu has traditionally opposed the project, arguing that it could affect the flow of water downstream.
