Hemavati canal project: Police register 13 FIRs against MLAs, seers over protest

The Gubbi police have registered as many as 13 FIRs against protestors, including MLAs, local leaders, and seers of the Mutt, involved in the protest against the diversion of Hemavati canal on Saturday.

A police inspector and several of his staff sustained injuries in the stone pelting when the police tried to disperse the protestors. Several vehicles were damaged in the melee.

The protest, which started with a group of around 400 people at D Rampura village in Gubbi taluk, blocked the national highway. The protesters burnt tyres to block the traffic. Soon, the crowd swelled to around 4,000, led by local leaders and seers of the mutt and their supporters. The protestors shouted slogans and stopped the vehicles plying on the highway.

The police had to struggle hard to disperse the violent protesters. Many of them were detained and were charged for offenses including blocking the highway, burning tyres on the roads, pelting stones, damaging vehicles, and preventing the police from discharging their duties.

The protesters wereopposing the diversion of the canal to flow the water to Kunigal taluk, a police officer said.

The police later cleared the highway and deployed additional forces there and the sensitive areas to monitor the law and order situation.

Published - June 01, 2025 10:15 pm IST