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Modi Urges Calm in Bangalore


A police officer inspects the charred remains of a car set ablaze in Bangalore, following violent protests after India's Supreme Court ordered Karnataka state to release water from the Cauvery river to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, India, Sept. 13
A police officer inspects the charred remains of a car set ablaze in Bangalore, following violent protests after India's Supreme Court ordered Karnataka state to release water from the Cauvery river to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, India, Sept. 13

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged for calm Tuesday in the southern city of Bangalore, where riots over a water dispute have plagued the Karnataka state capital for days.

"I appeal to the people of the two States, to display sensitivity, and also keep in mind their civic responsibilities," he said in a series of tweets Tuesday.

Violence erupted when a court ruled that some water from the Cauvery river be diverted from Karnataka to neighboring Tamil Nadu. Disputes over the water have emerged periodically for years.

At least two people have been killed in clashes with the police since Monday, and over 300 have been arrested for arson and rioting. Buses and cars have been set ablaze throughout the city as stone-pelting residents continue to riot.

Indian youth walk past as two trucks that came from the neighboring Tamil Nadu state go up in flames during violence in Bangalore, Karnataka state, Sept. 12, 2016.
Indian youth walk past as two trucks that came from the neighboring Tamil Nadu state go up in flames during violence in Bangalore, Karnataka state, Sept. 12, 2016.

Businesses in India's tech capital have also lost money, having been forced to shut down for the beginning of this week. City police extended a curfew through Wednesday, and many witnesses reported businesses being shut down and the streets being deserted.

Colleges are expected to reopen Wednesday.

Bangalore is home to many major Indian IT companies as well as multinationals such as Amazon.com, Samsung electronics, and Oracle.

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