Ban orders extended in B'luru, Karna braces for legal bout

As Karnataka government prepares itself for another round of legal battle with Tamil Nadu over the raging Cauvery dispute, police today decided to continue prohibitory orders in the violence-hit city where normalcy has been restored.
As a preventive measure, Section 144 has been extended till September 25 midnight in Bengaluru and strong bandobast continues, senior police officials said, adding that life is normal everywhere.
Prohibitory orders were clamped on Monday after violence erupted with dozens of buses and lorries with Tamil Nadu number plate being set on fire as mobs let out their fury over reports of some incidents of attack on Kannadigas and their property in the neighbouring state.

As the violence flared up soon after the Supreme court gave its amended order, directing Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu till September 20, police had clamped curfew in 16 police station limits of Bengaluru City, which was lifted yesterday.
Despite the call given by pro-Kannada organisations fora "rail roko" today to protest against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, train services remained normal across the state.
In the city, police stopped protesters who were marching to a railway station mid way.

Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj and several other Kannada Okkoota (federation) members were detained by the police.

Speaking to reporters before being detained, Nagaraj said, "Tomorrow they have called a Tamil Nadu bandh, against which we will observe black day across the state. Pro-Kannada organisations across the state will holddemonstrations with black flags in front to Deputy Commissioner offices."
Due to heightened security, the rail roko was unsuccessfulin Mandya, Mysuru, Hubballi, Shivamogga and other places whereprotesters who tried to enter railway stations were stoppedand detained by the police.
In Kolar, protesters managed to stop the Kolar-Bangalore passenger train for some time.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today helda consultation meeting with retired Judges of high court and advocate generals to discuss the course of Karnataka's legal battle in order to get justice in Cauvery water sharing.

Former judges Rajendra Babu, J Rama Jois, J Vishwanatha Shetty, J A J Sadashiva, J Kumar, and retired advocate generals B V Acharya, Ashok Haranahalli, Ravivarma Kumarwere present in the meeting along with ministers and legalteam.
The Chief Minister also wrote to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa requesting her to ensure protection of the lives and properties of Kannada speaking people in view of the bandh to be observed there tomorrow.
Siddaramiah said, "Cauvery dispute has history of 124
years; itstarted with first agreement between the then princely stateof Mysuru and Britishers (Madras Presidency) in 1892 and thenin 1924, from then we have been facing injustice, even now weare facing it."

"Now once again an order has come when I'm Chief Minister, there is a situation where we have to release water- it is inevitable, but we will continue our legal fight.
"The caseis coming up before Supreme Court on September 20, we willfight strongly, issue is also before the (Cauvery) Supervisory Committee," he said.
"We will leave no stone unturned to fight for thecause of our land, water, language and interest of our farmers. We are committed to protect the interest of thepeople of our state," he added.
In its September five order, the apex court had directed release of 15,000 cusecs for 10 days to ameliorate the plight of farmers of the neighboring state, which had triggered strong protests from farmers and pro-Kannada outfits with Karnataka observing a bandh against it on September 9.