Bengaluru: The Cauvery Horata Samiti in Karnataka has called for a bandh in Mandya over the Supreme Court's order on Monday to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. 

According to ANI, farmers are protesting in Shrirangapattana taluk of Mandya and have blocked a major highway. Schools and colleges in the district have been closed for one day.

Farmers burnt effigies of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitaa and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to discharge water as the State is reeling under a severe drought.

The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) members staged a ‘Jal Satyagraha’ at the Cauvery river near Srirangapatna.

According to sources, protesters also staged demonstrations at various places along the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway crippling traffic.

Mandya is the hotbed of Cauvery politics. According to sources, around 2400 policemen have been deployed to monitor the situation in Mandya.