Bengaluru: Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists damaged the public and private property and create violent incidents in Bengaluru on Wednesday, demanding that shops and commercial establishments display Kannada name boards prominently. They smashed display panels and painted the non-Kannada name boards black.

KRV activists took out an awareness rally from Sadahalli Gate near Kempegowda International Airport to Cubbon Park.

Police took nearly 1000 KRV activists into preventive custody. KRV activists disrupted the traffic on the busy airport road for some time. TA Narayana Gowda faction activists took out a rally and resorted to vandalism.

KRV activists created chaos on Lavelle Road, MG Road, Brigade Road, UB City and surrounding areas. Incidents of stone-pelting were also reported in many places. Shop owners downed shutters fearing damage to property. The activists, who got wind of the police plan to stop their rally midway, split into groups and went on the rampage. Hundreds of shops were vandalized before the police could bring the situation under control.

The KRV activists targeted Phoenix Mall of Asia on Airport Road at Byatarayanapura and tried to enter it. The mall management immediately suspended operations for the day.

TA Narayana Gowda, KRV President said that the Mall of Asia and other mall owners may have taken police protection today. But if they don’t give priority to Kannada, our activists will barge into their premises and damage their property.

According to the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda, we have registered five cases for vandalism. Around 1,000 activists were taken into preventive custody at Sadahalli Gate near Devanahalli, KR Puram and other areas of the city. We have given protection to malls and have intensified patrolling in the CBD.