Protests break out in TN against Karna

Chennai, Sep 12 (PTI) Protests by fringe Tamil outfitserupted in parts of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry today with somecommercial and government establishments of Karnataka comingunder attack, in an apparent fallout of the ongoing agitationin the neighbouring state against release of Cauvery water. The protests came a day after a video purportedly showinga 22-year-old Tamil youth being beaten up by a group of men inBengaluru for alleged "derogatory" remarks on social mediaagainst Kannada film actors went viral. Outfits such as Naam Tamizhar Katchi and TamizhagaVazhvurimai Katchi hit the streets protesting the ongoingagitations in Karnataka opposing release of Cauvery water toTamil Nadu, police said. A popular restaurant here and tourist vehicles bearingKarnataka registration in Rameswaram were vandalised whileprotesters created a ruckus at a Karnataka Bank branch inneighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry, police said. Four persons have been detained in connection with therestaurant attack while around 25 taken into custody inPuducherry, they said. Police protection was provided to the Karnataka Bankbranches in Tamil Nadu. In an early morning incident here, protesters owingallegiance to Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (TPDK)allegedly vandalised a popular restaurant owned by a native ofKarnataka. They smashed the window panes using iron rods and woodenlogs and four persons belonging to the outfit had beendetained in connection with the incident, a police officialsaid. At Rameswaram, seven tourist vehicles bearing Karnatakaregistration that were parked at a temple were damaged whenagitated members of various outfits including Naam TamizharKatchi allegedly indulged in vandalism. The group entered the parking lot of the temple near AgniTheertham sea in the town and damaged the vehicles with clubsand stones, police said. Cases have been registered against seven persons inconnection with the episode, they said. Protests were held outside the branches of Karnataka Bankin Erode even as protestors barged into the bank’s branch atPuducherry and created a ruckus. Around 25 workers of Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi enteredthe branch on Misson Street in the Union Territory wieldingbroomsticks, banged them on the tables and asked the bankstaff to vacate the premises. The staff ran helter skelter while the panic-strickencustomers rushed out. Policemen, who were deployed in the vicinity, rushed thereand took the protesters into custody. The bank was closed for a few hours after the incident andlater reopened. However, it was again shut following advicefrom police. At Vellore in Tamil Nadu, students of Government LawCollege boycotted classes over the issue. For the eight consecutive day, buses to Mysuru,Chamrajnagar and other places in Karnataka from Erode, Tirupurand Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu were not operated. (MORE)PTI SA COR SSN VSSMJ