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Cauvery agitation marred by violence
in Mandya, seven cops injured

Mandya, the home district of Chief Minister S M Krishna, is one of the sensitive districts in the Cauvery belt. Protests broke soon after the state began releasing water complying with a Supreme Court order.

The district observed a bandh on Saturday and irate mobs ransacked the railway station, damaging the ticket counter, computers and the station master's office, police and railway authorities said.

Police resorted to a lathicharge and lobbed shells to disperse the protestors.

By afternoon, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed and the situation was tense but under control with police maintaining a tight vigil.

Among those injured in the violence were MLA M S Atmananda and a deputy superintendent of police, police said.

Hotels, theatres, banks and other establishments were closed and vehicles were completely off the roads while the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation suspended its services.

A report from Mysore said the Command Area Development Authority office was damaged by a group of protesters. Mysore Mayor Chikkanna, Congress MLA Tanveer Sait and 27 others were taken into custody when they tried to force their way into the office.

Meanwhile, a 'rail bandh' has been called on Sunday by a committee, which works for the protection of the interests of Mandya farmers.

According to reports, hundreds of farmers converged on the Kabini reservoir in Mysore district from where the water is being discharged to Tamil Nadu, but were held back by policemen who have been deployed in strength.

In Bangalore, JD(U) leaders staged a dharna at the foot of the Mahatma Gandhi statue demanding immediate convening of the Cauvery River Authority meeting.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to the people to stage peaceful protests.

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