Protests continue against Cauvery Tribunal award

Bangalore, Feb 7 (UNI) Protests continued in the Cauvery basin districts of Karnataka, though on a low key, following the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal pronouncing the final award on sharing the river waters.

Amidst threats of a bandh call, which was subsequently postponed by the protesters, Asia's biggest air show Aero India-2007 got off to a trouble-free start at Yelahanka air base of the Indian Air Force on the outskirts of the city.

Additional Inspector General of Police Shankar Bidri told UNI here that minor protests at various places in Mandya, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts, besides the city were reported. A group of people held up a passenger train at Mandya and the Mysore-Chennai Shatabdi express at Srirangapatna for some time.

''However, the protests were peaceful. No untoward incidents were reported. No arrests have been made so far,'' he added.

Private bus services had resumed in Mandya district. However, KSRTC service between Bangalore and Mysore remained suspended. The authorities would take a decision on resuming the service tomorrow.

At Bharatinagar in Mandya district, agitators burnt an effigy of noted playwright Girish Karnad who had reportedly said the verdict should not be questioned by the Karnataka Government. Schools and colleges reopened in Mandya district. However, students came out of classes to protest in some places.

Lawyers' associations joined the protesters in Mysore, Mandya and Bangalore.

Meanwhile, police detained 25 pro-Kannada agitators for staging a demonstration near the city airport today. The demonstrators, holding placards, shouted slogans against the Union and Tamil Nadu Governments in protest against the verdict. They were released later.

UNI