Cauvery dispute: Central forces deployed to assist Bengaluru Police

Following the ongoing unrest in Bengaluru over the Cauvery water sharing row with Tamil Nadu, central forces have been deployed to assist the city police to maintain law and order.

The central forces include Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Railway Protection Force.

The Bengaluru Police said the situation in the city is is totally calm, adding strict action would be taken against vandals or miscreants.

The police said as many as 15,000 police men and officers have been deployed all over the city and around 270 Hoysala vehicles are deployed which act like police outposts.

The city police added that all necessary security arrangements have been made all over the city.

"In any emergencies kindly call 100 and report. KSRP and Quick Reaction Teams deployed all over the city to check violence. Be safe. Section 144 imposed," the Bengaluru Police said in its twitter handle.

Meanwhile, the pro-Kannada activists continued their protest in Mandya, Karnataka over the Cauvery water sharing row with Tamil Nadu.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday assured full assistance to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments to deal with the current state of violence that is prevailing in both the states over the Cauvery water issue.

Singh has assured assistance to both Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to tackle the present state of unrest.

In wake of the protests erupting over the Cauvery issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, requesting him to ensure safety and security of Tamilians residing in Karnataka.

With protests escalating in the wake of Cauvery water dispute that escalated between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the Bengaluru Police yesterday imposed Section 144 of the CRPC, meaning that no more than five people will be allowed to gather in public places in the city.

The protesters targeted vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers and set them on fire. They also vandalised trucks near Hubli bypass in Karnataka.

Siddaramaiah has also appealed for peace and has written to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu, urging her to ensure the safety of Kannada speaking people living in the state. He also urged the Tamil Nadu authorities to take action against those indulging in violence.

Modifying its September 5 order, the apex court yesterday asked the Karnataka Government to release to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery River water every day to Tamil Nadu till September 20.

It had earlier directed the Karnataka Government to release of 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days as immediate relief to farmers in Tamil Nadu.

The Hyderabad Police had earlier issued an advisory to all cable TV channels/cable TV network operators over protests in Bangaluru and said no program shall be transmitted in the cable service which is likely to incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order.