Bandh on Cauvery water issue
February 12, The dawn-to-dusk bandth by the pro-Kannada outfits in Karnataka made high tension in Tamil Nadu border areas. This bandh organised by pro-Kannada outfits in protest against the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.
All schools, colleges, cinemas, restaurants and most banks were closed. Basic and fundamental services like milk supply, hospitals, medical stores and media would be permitted to function. A total of 70000 policemen, 12 companies of Rapid Action Force, five companies of Reserve Police force were deployed on the border areas to avoid any such incidents.
The pro-Kannada outfits like Kannada Rakshana Vedike, Karnataka Jagruthi Vedike, Karnataka Jagruthi Vedike, Karnataka Gadinanda Sangha and Karnataka Dalit Sangha tried to cross Tamil Nadu border. But, the Karnataka police stopped the people who tried to enter into Tamil Nadu. Salem DIG Alexander, Superintendent of Police Thenmozhi, Hosur DSP Shyamala Devi and other higher officials camped at Zoozuvadi check post on the State border, to monitor the situation.
About 70 Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists were arrested by the police when they tried to stage a dharna inside the airport and another 40 were arrested when they tried to stop the trains leaving the city.
The people from Karnataka raised slogans against Tamil Nadu and the Cauvery River Water Dispute Tribunal. Tamil Nadu police said that the border areas of Tamil Nadu remained calm during the entire day. Superintendent of Police Thenmozhi said that no troublesome incidents were reported on the border areas.
