Cauvery row: Protesters vandalise van, thrash driver for ferrying Kannadigas

Chennai: In an apparent fallout of the ongoing Cauvery crisis, seven tourist vehicles bearing Karnataka registration that were parked at a temple in Rameswaram were damaged when agitated members of various outfits including Naam Tamizhar Iyakkam allegedly indulged in vandalism early today, police said.

The group entered the parking lot of a temple near Agni Theertham in the town and damaged the vehicles bearing Karnataka registration with clubs and stones, they said.

Cases have been registered against seven persons including one Manmathan, belonging to Tamizhar Desiya Front and are searching the suspects, they added.

Meanwhile, suspected pro-Tamil protesters attacked and damaged a hotel run by a native of Karnataka here.

The incident occurred during the wee hours on Monday when the group of protesters gathered around the hotel situated in Mylapore and damaged its window panes using iron rods and wooden logs, police said adding that no one was injured.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack and a probe is on, police said.

The incident comes a day after a video purportedly showing a 22-year-old Tamil youth being beaten by a group of men in Bengaluru for allegedly posting "derogatory" remarks on social media against Kannada film actors went viral.

It was also alleged that the youth had made comments, which were later deleted, against the ongoing Cauvery water agitation in Karnataka on the social media.

Protests by farmers and pro-Kannada outfits have been reported from several parts of the neighbouring state over the Supreme Court order asking Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi founder T Velmurugan here said his party workers will stage "democratic protests" outside Kannada establishments including their government offices in the state.