Mandya: Police on October 28 rounded up about 700 farmers in Mandya district for defying prohibitory orders and rail and bus services between Bangalore and Mysore were suspended as farmers renewed their stir against release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Police resorted to lathi charge and burst teargas shells when angry farmers stoned a police van in Mandya, as they launched a "jail bharo" programme, a day after the state council of ministers decided to release water ahead of the Supreme Court taking up the case on October 28.

In the region of Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir from where water is being released since October 27 night, 142 farmers were arrested, police said.

Some 150 farmers led by former minister K N Nagegowda courted arrest at Malavali in Mandya district and refused to go on bail until the water release was stopped.

It was a near bandh in Mandya where shops and commercial establishments downed shutters and attendance in government offices was affected.

Hundreds of farmers along the Kabini reservoir canal in Nanjangud taluk staged a dharna, a Mysore report said. At centres like Nanjangud, farmers were seen standing in knee-deep water while others stood on the bank of the canal.

Farmers were also staging dharna near the site of Kabini reservoir, into which a farmer had allegedly jumped and committed suicide, prompting the Karnataka government to suspend release of water earlier.

Police took 25 farmers into custody in Nanjungud and they were later released on bail.

PTI