In order to “draw Centre’s attention towards the ongoing Cauvery protests”, activists in Karnataka have called for a rail roko on Thursday. According to news agency ANI, pro-Karnataka protesters at Mandya railway station have been detained by the police. Indo-Tibetan Border Police forces have reportedly been deployed at the railway station which is expected to see protests by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike group. According to ANI, over 800 Kannada organisations are taking part in the rail roko protest.
On Wednesday, a Karnataka Police official had said that extra forces had been deputed across stations in Bengaluru city, Yeshwanthapura, Cantonment, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkuru, Hubballi and Raichur. “Policemen will be present at stations across the state. There will no bandh for trains,” said the official.
Karnataka witnessed a number of violent protests after the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the state to release more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Two people were killed in police firing and over 78 vehicles were torched during the protests. Over 1,700 paramilitary personnel were deployed in Karnataka to contain the violent protests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace, adding that he was “personally pained” by the ongoing crisis. He said, “The situation that has emerged in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as a fallout of the issue of distribution of the waters of the Cauvery River, is distressful. I am personally pained at the developments. Violence cannot provide a solution to any problem. In a democracy, solutions are found through restraint and mutual dialogue.”
On Wednesday, a Karnataka Police official had said that extra forces had been deputed across stations in Bengaluru city, Yeshwanthapura, Cantonment, Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkuru, Hubballi and Raichur. “Policemen will be present at stations across the state. There will no bandh for trains,” said the official.
Karnataka witnessed a number of violent protests after the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the state to release more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Two people were killed in police firing and over 78 vehicles were torched during the protests. Over 1,700 paramilitary personnel were deployed in Karnataka to contain the violent protests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace, adding that he was “personally pained” by the ongoing crisis. He said, “The situation that has emerged in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as a fallout of the issue of distribution of the waters of the Cauvery River, is distressful. I am personally pained at the developments. Violence cannot provide a solution to any problem. In a democracy, solutions are found through restraint and mutual dialogue.”