Mandya: An indefinite Mandya districtwide bandh and a relay hunger strike by farmers leaders began on October 30 as they intensified their stir to protest release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

Farmers defied prohibitory orders and came to the streets and shops and other commercial establishments downed shutters in Mandya and elsewhere in the district in response to an indefinite bandh called by the farmers' leaders.

Several leaders, including ruling Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) M S Atmananda, of the district farmers committee which is spearheading the agitation, began the relay hunger strike at Silver Jubilee park, demanding stoppage of water release.

Road blockades were reported in several parts of the district in the Cauvery hinterland, which has been the epicentre of the agitation against release of water.

Train and bus services between Bangalore and Mysore were paralysed for the third day running since the agitation was resumed on October 28, a day after the state council of ministers decided to release water to Tamil Nadu.

Angry farmers had on October 29 attacked the house of ruling Congress MLA from Pandavapura Kempegowda who was however away from home when the incident took place.

PTI