Goons go on rampage, police mute spectators

Vedike men on a rampage
Deccan Herald

Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on Tuesday brought down several English language hoardings on MG Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street and Sankey Road

Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) on Tuesday brought down several English language hoardings on MG Road, Brigade Road, Commercial Street and Sankey Road, damaged display panels of two shops and a restaurant besides damaging three cars at a Hyundai showroom in Sadashivnagar.

The activists headed by KRV Secretary Narayana Gowda were taking out a procession on the occasion of Kannada Rajyotsava day at 11:00 am. The KRV activists said they were launching a campaign against non-Kannada hoardings beginning on Tuesday.

According to police, some of the activists who were bringing down English language hoardings on Brigade Road entered into a verbal duel with some of the shopowners who protested against the act. The activists later started hurling stones at Shoe Wagon and Shoe Tracks damaging their glass panels. On MG Road, the activists damaged a showcase of Savera restaurant.

Three cars and glass panes of the Hyundai showroom on Sankey Road, Sadashivnagar were damaged when the activists pelted stones. According to the showroom manager, the losses were estimated to be over Rs 3 lakh. Police evaluated the total loss of property to be more than Rs 10 lakh.