Protests intensified in Tamil Nadu against Karnataka's opposition to the Hogenakkal water project with two hotels owned by Kannada businessmen being targeted for the second day and a farm house of a Kannada actor attacked while agitators in Bangalore stoned a cable operator office for refusing to black out Tamil channels.
Activists of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) attacked a restaurant at Nungambakkam in Chennai on Thursday evening, smashing window panes and a glass-paneled showcase. Based on the owner's complaint, seven PDK workers were arrested.
Another restaurant was attacked by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) cadre who also targeted the Karnataka Sangha Association in Chennai in an apparent retaliation to the attack on the office of the Tamil Sangam in Bangalore on Monday.
They painted tar on the Kannada words of a display board in the Association's office and also tried to stage a demonstration which was thwarted by the police. Two restaurants owned by a business house from Karnataka were ransacked on Wednesday in the city.
In Theni, members of youth wings of the DMK and the AIADMK along with a local literary organisation ransacked the farm house of popular Kannada actor Vishnu Vardhan. Activists of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK and opposition AIADMK along with members of literary group 'Tamizh Ilakiya Peravai' damaged some vehicles, fittings and equipment in a farm house of Vishnu Vardhan but spared the employees, police said.
In Bangalore, pro-Kannada groups stoned a cable operator office for not blacking out Tamil Channels. As the protests escalated in Tamil Nadu, police stepped up security for several business houses of Karnataka as well as residences of film stars Rajinikant and Arjun who hails from Karnataka.
