Belagavi: With farmers threatening to commit mass suicide and other organisations planning protests during the 10-day winter session of the state legislature that begins here on November 13, the police is taking no chances and has upped security around the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha. It will deploy as many as 3590 personnel to provide security for its duration.
Meanwhile, the district administration has booked most private hotels, guest houses and resorts in and around Belagavi city to accommodate the thousands of guests expected for the legislature session.
Briefing reporters on the arrangements made for it, Belagavi police commissioner, T G Krishna Bhat said prohibitory orders under Section 144 would be promulgated in a 1 sq. km area around the Suvarna Vidhan Soudha for the 10 days in the wake of the protests announced by various farmers organisations. Some of them have even threatened to commit mass suicide mass during the session if the government does not persuade the sugar factories to pay them their dues that have pending since last year. While around 15 organisations have taken permission from the police to stage protests during the session, no decision has been taken as yet on the request of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti to allow it to hold a a parallel session, Mahamelava, on November 13, according to the commissioner.
But the MES is already preparing to hold the Mahamelava in Belagavi. The police had last year permitted the session on some conditions.
Besides strengthening security, the police would erect six makeshift tents near Suvarna Soudha to accommodate around 5000 protestors, the commissioner revealed.
