Bengaluru: In view of the Supreme Court hearing the petition related to Cauvery water dispute, the Bengaluru police have made elaborate security arrangements across the city. To avoid a repeat of September 12 when violence rocked the city, the police have beefed up security, especially in areas that witnessed arson and police firing last week.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has issued guidelines to police, directing them to take precautionary measures. He has directed police to keep ready fire engines and required emergency forces at sensitive areas around Cauvery belt including Bengaluru.
The Home Minister has also directed police to flag march around sensitive areas, and appealed to pro-Kannada activists and farmers' associations to maintain peace.
Meanwhile, Section 144 has been imposed in Mandya's Sanjay circle.
The police have extended the prohibitory orders that were enforced on September 12 till Sunday. The central police forces that were called in for bandobast following the protests, are still camping in the city and will be used on Tuesday as well.
As many as 16 companies of central forces, including three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal, three companies of Border Security Force, one company of Indo-Tibetan Border Police will be deployed on Tuesday.
Apart from the 15,000 civil policemen, 30 platoons of City Armed Reserve police, 114 quick response teams, 2,000 home guards, 270 Hoysala patrolling vehicles and 400 Cheeta bikes will be deployed.
Besides, a SWAT vehicle will also be stationed to prevent protesters from going berserk. Besides, 320 surveillance cameras have been installed in sensitive areas of the city to monitor the situation. City’s top police officials held a meeting on Monday and discussed the security measures that have to be taken on Tuesday.
The city police were on a high vigil on Monday as well in the wake of the Cauvery Supervisory Committee meeting that was held in Delhi. Heavy police deployment was made at Majestic bus station, Satellite bus station on Mysuru Road, Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station and other places.
The police also conducted flag marches at Kamakshipalya, Sunkadkatte, Kaveripura, Vrushabhavathinagar, Austin town, Neelasandra, Anepalya, Shanthinagar, Richmond Town and other areas.
Overruling differences between the two states, the Cauvery Supervisory Committee on Monday ordered Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs water per day to Tamil Nadu between September 21 and September 30, leading to protests.
Despite day-long discussions, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu failed to reach an agreement on the quantum of water to be released.
No sale of liquor today
Tuesday will be a dry day with City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh issuing orders prohibiting the sale of liquor in the jurisdiction of Bengaluru city police commissionerate, in view of the Supreme Court hearing on petitions related to the Cauvery water dispute. In an order issued on Monday evening, Mr Megharikh ordered closure of wine shops, bars, pubs and all places where liquor is sold.
The order will be in effect from 6 am on Tuesday till 1 am on Wednesday. However, exemption has been given to clubs, star hotels and military canteens. The order stated that anti-social elements took advantage of the situation on September 12 and created a law and order problem under the influence of alcohol.
