Awkward Karnataka Rakshana Vedike demonstration results in shop vandalism and 1,000 arrests

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) activists went on the rampage in Bengaluru on Wednesday, damaging and discoloring non-Kannada name boards in protest of their demand that businesses and retail spaces prominently display Kannada name boards.

In several parts of the city, police found it difficult to maintain control of the situation. Almost a thousand campaigners were placed into detention without charge. There was some temporary traffic disruption on the major airport road.
Vandalism was used by KRV (TA Narayana Gowda group) activists at a protest. The non-Kannada nameboards were painted black, and the display panels were shattered.

Lavelle Road, MG Road, Brigade Road, UB City, and the surrounding neighborhoods were all in a state of chaos. Numerous locations also reported stone-throwing incidents. Retailers pulled down their shutters out of concern for their belongings.

The Kannada organization held an awareness walk from Sadahalli Gate, close to Kempegowda International Airport, to Cubbon Park. The group had started a campaign around the city and given people till Wednesday to exhibit Kannada signs. When the demonstrators learned that the police intended to end their demonstration in the middle, they broke up into groups and went on the rampage.

Before the police could stabilize the situation, hundreds of stores were vandalized. The activists attempted to enter Phoenix Mall of Asia, which is located on Airport Road in Byatarayanapura. Operations were promptly halted for the day by the mall management.

When female activists attempted to enter the mall, there was a great deal of commotion as they were loaded into busses and removed by law enforcement. The activists launched a lawsuit against the mall management, claiming that they were merely requested to abide by name board regulations.

“The Mall of Asia and other mall owners may have taken police protection today,” KRV President TA Narayana Gowda said. However, our activists will storm their property and cause damage if they don’t prioritize Kannada.

The demonstrators demolished non-Kannada signs and billboards close to Sadahalli Gate, where the police broke up their demonstration. “We have registered five cases for vandalism,” said B Dayananda, Commissioner of Bengaluru City Police. Approximately one thousand activists were placed in preventive detention at KR Puram, Sadahalli Gate, which is close to Devanahalli, and other locations in the city. We have increased patrols in the CBD and provided malls with security.”