Bengaluru: The Farmer associations and pro-Kannada outfits called a protest Bandh on Saturday against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The Farmer associations intensify their protest.

The Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara appealed the agitators to protest peacefully and not to destroy public property. He said that there is no wrong in protesting the farmers. The police tightened security across the state.

Farmers protesting in Mysuru were arrested when they tried to enter the ZP office and gherao Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike activists In Bengaluru staged a protest in front of the KR Puram BBMP office. As they started marching towards Vidhana Soudha, around 80 activists were taken into preventive custody and released later. Protests were also held at Attibele checkpost, near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, while the agitation spread to Chitradurga, Ballari, Davanagere, Koppal and Vijayapura.

Kannada activists gathered near the Bengaluru Water Supply Board office at Thorekadanahalli main gate in Malavalli. They demanded that water supply to Bengaluru be stopped, and be diverted to farmers. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda directed the police officers to be on high alert. All security measures have been taken. Officers were instructed to prevent damage to Tamil Nadu buses and private vehicles.