K'taka HM appeals for peace, assures action against miscreants

In the wake of violence which erupted in Karnataka yesterday, Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday appealed for calm and assured action against those trying to disrupt tranquility in the region.

Parameshwara said, "I request the people of Karnataka to please maintain peace in the state and not take law in your hands."

"Some people indulged in violence using names of some organizations. We will find who they are, arrest them and take action," he added.

Parameshwara further said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure safety of every citizen.

"It must be appreciated that we brought the city to order in time otherwise there would have been more loss of life," he said.

One person was killed and another injured in police firing in Bengaluru yesterday after the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka for release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Violence rocked Bengaluru, as about 30 vehicles from Tamil Nadu were torched, prompting Siddaramaiah-led government to issue prohibitory orders in the IT city, besides shutting metro rail operations, schools, colleges and some offices.

Retaliatory violence also erupted in Tamil Nadu as groups hurled bombs at Chennai's New Woodlands Hotel and attacked seven Karnataka buses in Rameswaram.

About 15,000 cops were deployed across the IT city with focus in areas where Tamils live in large numbers.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday assured full assistance to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments to deal with the current state of violence.

Describing the violence in Karnataka as "alarming", Siddaramaiah wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart J. Jayalalithaa to ensure that the perpetrators of the violence are brought to book.