Mysuru: The Kodagu police is turning the district into a fortress to prevent disruption of the Tipu Jayanti celebrations on Friday with one organisation, the Tipu Jayanthi Virodi Horaata Samithi, already calling for a bandh against it and BJP leaders making no bones about their opposition to the event. While there are no intelligence reports on probable law and order problems, the police of both Kodagu and Mysuru are on high alert to ensure a peaceful Tipu Jayanti. They are taking no chances as a couple of years ago two people had died in violence during celebrations in Madikeri. Besides imposing prohibitory orders in Kodagu from Thursday to Saturday morning, the police is checking vehicles at all 10 checkposts and has equipped its own vehicles with stone guards and fire extinguishers.
The sale of liquor will be banned on Friday and 800 rowdy sheeters have signed bonds not to indulge in violence. Also, CCTV cameras are being installed at all major spots. In Mysuru, the police is holding peace meetings with different community leaders and CCTV cameras are being installed in sensitive areas, according to DCP (law and order), Vishnuvardhan. Meanwhile, names of Mysuru- Kodagu MP , Pratap Simha of the BJP and Kodagu MLC, Ganesh Karnik, have been dropped from the Jayanti invitation cards in both districts.
