Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka is celebrating Tipu Jayanti amidst several protests taking place across the state against the celebrations.

To prevent violence during the celebration, the government has tightened security across the state. It has also imposed prohibitory orders in the Kodagu district, which has been the center of opposition to the celebrations. However, several protests were witnessed in various places across the state, including Kodagu district, which resulted in the arrest of many people.

In Virajpet taluk, MLA K G Bopaiah, who was the chief guest at the Tipu Jayanti celebration, was detained along with his followers for staging a protest and calling Tipu a tyrant ruler and cruel king. Bopara was released later.

In Madikeri, hundreds of Sangh Parivar workers offered pooja at Omkareshwara temple and celebrated the birth of Kuttapa — a VHP leader who was killed in 2015 in Madikeri during protests against Tipu Jayanti.

The workers were arrested when they came in a procession trying to enter fort premises where the Kuttapa Jayanti was being celebrated. MLC Sunil Subramani and MLA Appachu Ranjan were also detained for taking part in the procession and were released later.

In Kalaburagi, police arrested about 20 activists of VHP and BJP when they tried to take out a procession against the celebrations. The police were directed not to give permission for any procession to be held either for or against the celebrations in the state.

Activists shouted slogans against chief minister Siddaramaiah and none of the BJP leaders attended the official event.

In Mangaluru, police detained BJP Minority Morcha leader Franklin Montero, when he attempted to enter the premises. He claimed that he was attending the programme as a common citizen. But police detained him on a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, the programme in Bengaluru has been pushed towards evening, in view of the prayers that Muslims have to offer on Friday. The police have detained many anti-social elements in the city and security has been beefed up in sensitive places like Shivaji Nagar, Frazer town, Chickpet and Cottonpet.