BENGALURU: Police are on full alert in the state, throwing a cordon sanitaire around the IT capital Bengaluru after intelligence agencies at the centre and the state warned that Tamil Nadu's statewide bandh on Friday, could trigger violence in the southern state and have repercussions in neighbouring Karnataka where violent protests on the Cauvery dispute have already claimed the lives of two people and dented Bengaluru's image as a safe haven for IT bellwethers.
While some reports indicate that TN chief minister J. Jayalalithaa is unlikely to allow violence to escalate as Karnataka's leadership, state intelligence have reportedly gathered information that the protests would turn violent in Tamil Nadu, and fear, it could trigger another round of violent protests in Bengaluru and parts of Karnataka.
"There is information that the Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu would be targeted during the bandh, as revenge to what happened in Bengaluru on Monday. Though here no Tamilians were attacked and only vehicles were set on fire, the Friday's bandh would go to next level. If the fringe groups attack Kannadigas living in Tamil Nadu physically, then it would be disastrous. Its impact would echo in Karnataka as well, especially in Bengaluru," an official said.
Tamil Nadu police have been informed about the developments and they have put proper security measures at place. "They are very much aware of the plans of the fringe groups and should be able to tackle the situation. Security has been beefed up in that state," the official added.
In Bengaluru, police have tightened the security. "Prohibitory orders have been already extended in the city till September 25 and the central security forces will be stationed in the city till peace is completely restored here. Following the alert, the city police have also made necessary security arrangements. Heavy police deployment is in place wherever Tamil population is high," the official said.
CAUVERY RAGING
Bike Torched: Unidentified miscreants set fire to a bike bearing Tamil Nadu registration number at Kempanna Layout on Thursday night
Price too high! During the Monday protests, a man and his goons use the cover of the Cauvery protests to vandalise a man's home in J.P. Nagar
