Tight Security For Devaragattu Banni Festival
Police and revenue officials held awareness meetings in villages around Devaragattu: Reports
KURNOOL: Kurnool district police have made elaborate security arrangements for the Banni festival of Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy at Devaragattu in Holagunda mandal on Wednesday night, October 21, as part of Dasara celebrations.
District SP Vikrant Patil on Monday appealed to devotees to celebrate the festival peacefully and in accordance with tradition. Around 1,000 police personnel, including senior officers, will
be deployed to prevent untoward incidents.
The SP warned against treating the festival as an occasion for attacks with sticks, noting that personal disputes and old rivalries during traditional performances had resulted in injuries. He urged participants to refrain from violence.
Police and revenue officials held awareness meetings in villages around Devaragattu, including Neraniki, Neraniki Thanda, Kothapeta, Arikera and Ellarthi. Binding-over proceedings were initiated against 190 people identified as potential troublemakers or those previously involved in clashes.
During raids, police seized 40 litres of illicitly distilled liquor and 10 litres of illegal liquor, registered cases and destroyed 300 litres of jaggery wash prepared for brewing illicit liquor. Around
300 sticks were also seized during 40 cordon-and-search operations.
Five checkposts and 10 police pickets have been established. Security measures include 110 night-vision CCTV cameras, 700 LED lights, 10 drones and continuous surveillance through a control room.