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Karnataka: Police step up security to Tamils

April 01, 2008

The Bangalore police stepped up security in areas with sizeable Tamil population and to residence of the DMK chief's daughter Selvi after protests rocked Karnataka on the Hogenakkal project issue. 

Meanwhile, a meeting convened by various Kannada organisations under the umbrella of "Akhila Karnataka Gadi Horata Samiti" (an organisation for protection of State's borders), called for a Karnataka bandh on April 10.

The meeting requested all political parties and people to support it (the bandh call)", Samiti's president Vatal Nagaraj said, adding, a rally would be organised on that day demanding that Tamil Nadu stop work on the project.

In the wake of an attack by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on the Tamil Sangham, security has been beefed up to the organisation and also at cinemas which screen Tamil movies, the target of yesterday's attack, the police said.

"We have provided security to Tamil installations including newspapers. Security has been strengthened at Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi residence," city police commissioner N Achuta Rao said.

He said the police on its own decided to strengthen security to Selvi's house though she had not sought for it.

"We will see to it that none from the neighbouring state is hurt. All the concerned police officers have been instructed and nobody will be allowed to take law into their hands," he said. The police are also keeping a vigil on certain people who may try to create trouble, he said.

A few months ago, a crowd attacked Selvi's house protesting certain remarks reportedly made by her father on the Ram Sethu project and Lord Ram.

The police have arrested Basavaraj, a KRV activist, for the attack on Tamil Sangham. He has been remanded in judicial custody.

Parts of Karnataka have been witnessing protests against Karunanidhi and Tamil Nadu on the Hogenakkal issue, over which the state has protested to the Centre and Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi had declared recently that his government would go ahead with the Hogenakkal water project.

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