Police reportedly detained pro-Kannada activists in Mysuru on Thursday, August 13, after they attempted to block buses near the suburban bus stand during a statewide bandh over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Tamil Nadu.
The bandh, called by the Federation of Kannada Organisations led by activist Vatal Nagaraj, opposes directions to Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. While protesters demanded that the state protect Karnataka’s drinking-water and agricultural needs, bus services and daily life largely continued normally in Mysuru and Bengaluru, with police deployed to prevent disruptions.
Activists Detained
In Mysuru, protesters gathered near the suburban bus stand and attempted to prevent buses from leaving, prompting police to detain them. The activists raised slogans against both the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments and demanded that no further Cauvery water be released to Tamil Nadu.
Despite the protest, buses to Bengaluru, Mangaluru and other destinations continued to operate normally, while shops, hotels, autos and taxis remained open. Karnataka Sene district president Tejas Lokesh Gowda said the Centre should mediate between the two states and bring their Chief Ministers together to find a permanent solution. He also called for a scientific water-sharing formula for years of low rainfall and an all-party meeting in Karnataka.
Cauvery Dispute Intensifies
The bandh comes after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the Cauvery Water Management Authority directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. Karnataka has argued that its reservoirs have received below-average inflows and that water must be conserved for drinking, agriculture and other essential needs.
In Mandya, considered the centre of the agitation, farmers and pro-Kannada organisations blocked the old Bengaluru-Mysuru highway while carrying empty pots and horse gram to highlight concerns over water availability. Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the state would decide its next course of action after the Supreme Court hearing on Tamil Nadu’s plea. He said Karnataka had around 76 TMC feet of water and maintained that releasing 12,000 cusecs was not favourable to the state.
What’s Open And What’s Closed?
The August 13 bandh has seen a mixed impact across Karnataka. Hospitals, pharmacies and other essential services remain operational, while schools, banks and corporate offices are generally expected to function as usual. In Bengaluru, BMTC buses, Namma Metro, taxis and airport services are operating, although commuters may face delays in protest-affected areas.
Shops and commercial establishments may see partial closures depending on local participation, while inter-state movement at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, particularly around Attibele, has faced restrictions, with vehicles being stopped in both directions.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Cauvery dispute affects farmers, drinking-water security and livelihoods on both sides of the inter-state boundary, making it understandable that emotions run high. However, stopping buses or disrupting essential services can place ordinary citizens in the middle of a dispute they did not create.
Democratic protest is an important right, but it should not come at the cost of another person’s freedom to travel, work or access essential services. A lasting solution will require evidence-based water management, cooperation between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and meaningful political dialogue rather than confrontation. How can both states protect their people’s water needs while ensuring that protests remain peaceful and do not inconvenience those with no role in the dispute?
Also Read: Karnataka Bandh Today: What’s Open, What’s Closed Amid Cauvery Water Row
Mysuru, Karnataka: Pro-Kannada activists attempting to stop buses were detained by police and taken away in a police van pic.twitter.com/nN7ZMyoHF3
— IANS (@ians_india) August 13, 2026
