The ‘peaceful’ Cauvery movement took a violent turn on Wednesday with protesters resorting to stone throwing, leaving several people injured.
Around 20,000 protesters assembled at the north gate of Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Srirangapatna to lay siege and stop further release of water to Tamil Nadu.
However, the state government did not budge and, in response, Cauvery River Protection Committee chairman G. Madegowda announced fast-unto-death stir from Thursday.
Tension gripped KRS site for nearly five hours, but surprisingly, the day passed off without loss of property or life.
On instructions from Karnataka chief minister’s office not to aggravate the situation by use of force, police restrained themselves from acting against the protesters despite the crowds hurling stones at them.
Conciliatory attempts by leaders like Mandya MP N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Srirangapatna MLA A.B. Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, former minister M.S. Atmananda and ex-MLA L.R. Shivaramegowda went in vain and, instead, angry agitators abused and threw footwear at them.