One killed in firing; curfew in violent-hit Bengaluru

One person was killed and two others injured in police firing on Monday night in tense Bengaluru, where curfew has been imposed in 16 sensitive localities after violent protests erupted in southern Karnataka over the Supreme Court's latest order to release more Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.

"The victim (Umesh) succumbed to bullet injuries he suffered when police fired to disperse a mob attempting to torch a patrolling vehicle after ransacking a provision shop in the city's northern suburb," said a police official early on Tuesday.

Though police initially resorted to caning and lobbing tear gas shells to prevent the enraged mob of about 50 people from becoming violent, 12 rounds were fired by a platoon of the Karnataka State Reserved Police to disperse it from the troubled spot.

According to preliminary inquiry, Umesh, 25, working at a petrol retail outlet, was unfortunately present at the spot where the mob gathered.

Umesh hailed from Kunigal in Tumakuru district, about 70km from Bengaluru.

The other two injured, whose names police did not disclose, were rushed to a district hospital at Tumakuru for treatment and recovery from bullet wounds on the leg.

In a related development, police imposed curfew for three days from early Tuesday in the city's north-west, south-west, north east and central areas to maintain peace and prevent untoward incidents in the festival week, beginning with Bakrid on Tuesday, Onam on Wednesday and immersion of Ganesha's idols on the 10th day (Thursday).

"Curfew has been clamped in 16 areas across the city and ban order issued under Section 144 of the CrPCA across the city to maintain law and order and prevent angry protestors from indulging in violence, arson or loot during Eid and Onam," said city Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh.

Among the jurisdiction areas are Rajagopalanagar, Kamakshipalya, Vijayanagara, Byatarayanpura, Kengeri, Magadi road, Rajajinagar, Chandra layout, Yeshwantpura, Mahalakshmiu layout, Peenya and Nandini layout.

--IANS

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