KRV chief Narayana Gowda, 15 other activists arrested day after rampage

BENGALURU: A day after they went on rampage, vandalising English nameboards on commercial establishments in different parts of the city, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) state president T A Narayana Gowda and 15 other activists were arrested by the city police on Thursday for destroying public properties.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike state chief Narayana Gowda and a few other activists were arrested on Thursday.

Activists of the pro-Kannada group had on Wednesday damaged signboards and indulged in stonethrowing at several places demanding that nameboards should have 60 per cent space earmarked for Kannada. Several activists were detained following the rampage and were let off later. However, Narayana Gowda and about 250 activists were detained till 9 pm on Wednesday.

Several FIRs were registered against the activists in different police stations including Cubbon Park and Ashok Nagar for causing damage on Lavelle Road, Banaswadi for stoning of Empire Hotel, Cottonpet and Chikkajala for damaging BMTC buses. Cases were also registered against them for spitting on policemen and obstructing them from discharging their duties.

On Thursday, KRV activists, led by women’s wing vice-president Ashwini Gowda, staged a protest in front of Cubbon Park police station alleging that Police Inspector Girish had assaulted the activists, leading to one of them sustaining a broken arm and another sustaining injuries. The protesters also claimed that 15 innocent people had been arrested.

Following, Narayana Gowda’s arrest, the police have stepped up security at the KRV office on Gandhinagar 5th Main Road. The KRV activists have planned to stage protest in different parts of the city and state against the arreste of Narayana Gowda.

Ashwini Gowda told Public TV, “The government is trying to subdue us, but we will not back down. Even if Narayana Gowda is not around, our activists are prepared. Protests have already started in the districts. We are also in touch with other pro-Kannada groups”, she said.