Mahadayi water dispute: Protestors including women, roughed up by cops

As Karnataka saw widespread protests after the Mahadayi water dispute tribunal rejected Karnataka's request for an interim order allowing to draw 7.56 tmcft of drinking water under the Kalasa Banduri drinking water project, another shocking incident has come to light.

Many of those who participated in the protests especially from the districts of Nargund, Navalgund and Hubli - Dharwad did not expect the police to forcibly enter their houses and beat them up.

Many villagers from Yamanur, Navalgund districts had participated in the stone pelting incident where several central government offices including the BSNL office were attacked to mark their protest. The protestors tried to set the office on fire. They also had set a few buses on fire. But the next day, several police officers had landed at their houses and dragged them out and beat them up.

OVER 30 PEOPLE INJURED IN LATHICHARGE

More than 30 people were reported injured and were later admitted to a Hubballi hospital for treatment. The Navalgund police registered a case against over 50 people including local leader Lokanath Hebasur for creating unrest in the district.

Yelamma too had joined the protest as every year she faces acute water shortage during the summers. She travels nearly five kilometres to get water for her family and the cattle she raises. She too felt that the 7.56 tmcft of water would help her survive through the worst dry spells.

The police indiscriminately attacked woman and senior citizens.

She faced the lathicharge by the police thinking that was just to dispel the crowds. The next morning , she found herself being dragged out of her house and beaten with lathis. "I did not how to react , we were fighting for our rights, they came and beat us black and blue. You can see the clot on my hand," she said.

SENIOR BJP LEADERS CONDEMN ATTACK

Senior BJP leaders such as B S Yeddyurappa , Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananda Gowda have condemned the lathicharge by the police.

"I demand a thorough probe to be ordered immediately about the police brutality and cruelty on women from the villages of Yamanur and Algawadi villages. I also demand that the state government comes out with an action plan to get the Mahadayi dispute sorted . The state government is at the brink of a precipice and people are angry and agitating. The state government must soothe the ruffled sentiments of the people," said the BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa in a statement.

BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa's statement.

The Karnataka state Director General of police Om Prakash has said that strict disciplinary action will be taken against all those who are found to be involved in the rampage. The Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara also condemned the act and said that he has ordered probe into the matter and actions will be taken all those who were involved in this inhuman act.

SO WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THIS FLASHPOINT?

The Mahadayi river, which has its source in Karnataka, flows through Goa to the sea and Goa fears that the diversion of water to northern Karnataka would harm its interests. This dispute has been going on since 2002 and Goa had approved the water tribunal seeking clarity whether water should be diverted to Karnataka or not. Though the river Mahadayi originates in Karnataka, it is considered the lifeline for Goa and newly 75 per cent of the river's catchment area is in Goa.

The Mahadayi Water Tribunal pronounced its order in favour of Goa on Monday and since then protests have broken in the districts of North Karnataka opposing the move as well as stating that the Congress government in Karnataka and the BJP leaders such as Union minister Ananth Kumar, Former BJP state chief Prahlad Joshi were not convincing enough which led to the loss in getting water for the state.

While a statewide bandh was called bringing the state almost to a standstill, it was the districts of Hubli-Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag, Nargund and Navalgund that was worst hit by the bandh call.

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