Arrests Made After Violent Protest for Kannada Language Prominence in Bengaluru

In Bengaluru, 53 people, including the president of the group ‘Karnataka Rakshana Vedike,’ T.A. Narayana Gowda, were arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence and vandalism during a protest demanding prominence for the Kannada language. The protesters removed and tore down English signboards from commercial outlets.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B. Dayanand mentioned that 10 FIRs had been registered. While there is room for peaceful protests, he emphasized that actions disturbing law and order would not be tolerated. The president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Shetty faction), Praveen Kumar Shetty, warned of consequences if the arrested activists were not released unconditionally, calling for a strong response from Kannada activists.