Members of the Kannnada Rakshana Vedike disrupted the screening of Tamil movies across Bangalore on Monday to protest against the statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi on the power plant issue.
Tamil Nadu is setting up a power plant near the Karanataka border. However, Karnataka is opposed to the project as the plant will be built along the Cauvery River, and both states have been locked in a legal dispute over the issue.
However, Karunanidhi recently made it clear that Tamil Nadu planned to go ahead with the project.
Protesting against Karunanidhi's statement, Vedike members went on a rampage on Monday. They disrupted the screening of Tamil movies in ten theatres across Bangalore, ripped up their posters and also assaulted several people.
The office of the Tamil Sangam in Ulsoor was also attacked. Members of the Vedike hit one person with a helmet when he requested them not to tear up a poster of Tamil superstar and former Tamil Nadu chief minister MGR.
Narayan Gowda, convener of the Vedike, told reporters that they would intensify the protests.
He also warned that the Vedike would not allow a single Tamil movie to be screened in Karnataka. He added that the organisation would ask cable operators to stop telecasting any Tamil programmes, he said.
The Bangalore police have tightened security arrangements as they anticipate more trouble in the coming days. The Vedike is split into three factions and each faction would try to gain an upper hand in the protests, police sources told rediff.com.
