Hundreds of pro-Kannada activists staged demonstrations in many areas of the city protesting attacks on Kannadigas and Karnataka-registered buses in Chennai and some parts of Tamil Nadu earlier in the day.
In view of the brewing tension, inter-state buses with Tamil Nadu registration suspended services to the neighbouring state. Trucks and other vehicles also withdrew operating in the city.
Tension was brewing in the city and across the Mysuru region, including Mandya since afternoon after the apex court directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs daily from Tuesday up to September 20 in response to the state's interim petition to allow it only 10,000 cusecs daily for six days - from September 7 to September 12.
Security has been beefed up for business establishments owned by Kannadigas and also outside the homes of noted Kannada personalities in Tamil Nadu, police said on Monday.
Several celebrities took to their social media accounts and urged citizens to not take the law in their hands: