A statewide bandh called in Karnataka on Wednesday over the Cauvery water dispute largely failed to disrupt normal life, as public movement and essential services continued as usual.
The shutdown was called by Vatal Nagaraj, leader of the Kannada Chalavali Vatal Party, protesting the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s direction to release water to Tamil Nadu. Several Kannada organisations and private school associations that had initially indicated support later withdrew it, citing the government’s request.
Police were deployed across Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mandya and other districts from early morning. Government and private buses, autos and cars operated normally, while schools, colleges and shops remained open. Tamil Nadu state transport buses also ran without interruption.
In Bengaluru’s Dollars Colony, Vatal Nagaraj staged a symbolic protest by placing plaster over his mouth before setting out, but was detained by police outside his residence. Farmers and Kannada groups held protests in parts of the Cauvery basin, including Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar; some shops in Mandya town were shut in the morning but reopened later.
Security was tightened along the Tamil Nadu–Karnataka border. Around 9 am, more than 50 people led by Manjunath Deva of the Kannada Jagruti Vedike allegedly stopped Tamil Nadu vehicles at Athipalli on the Karnataka border and were arrested by Karnataka police.
