Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Sep 6: With BJP remaining adamant about holding the 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally despite the ban order by the state government, the police are all geared up to face the challenge posed to law and order situation in the event of violation of the ban.
Highly places sources told daijiworld that former city police commissioner Chandra Sekhar has been given the charge of looking after security arrangements to ensure that peace is maintained and no untoward incidents take place on Thursday September 7.
The state government as well as the city police have banned bike rallies and processions associated with the 'Mangaluru Chalo' protest. However, there is no restriction yet on holding public meet.
The BJP has also said that despite not being given permission, it will take out a rally from Jyothi to DC's office, and then to Nehru Maidan which is expected to be the venue of the protest. The police have allowed the public meet to be held at Nehru Maidan only between 11 am and 2 pm.
Anticipating trouble, the government on Wednesday September 6 gave IPS officer Chandra Sekhar the responsibility of looking after the security in the city. With the entire nation's eyes on Mangaluru, the government wanted to give the difficult task to an officer who had experience serving in Mangaluru, and who knew the city and its dynamics very well. Naturally, the choice was Chandra Sekhar who served as Mangaluru city police commissioner and did a commendable job of reining in trouble-mongers.
Presently the IGP of CID in Bengaluru, Chandra Sekhar had been police commissioner of Mangaluru city from January 2016 to May this year. During his tenure, the city was relatively peaceful, with only stray incidents happening here and there. When the law and order situation was threatened ahead of the Kerala CM's visit to Mangaluru earlier this year, Chandra Sekhar and his team had taken measures to ensure that the programme went on smoothly. The police during his tenure took up several measures to crackdown on crime and curb drug menace and other illegal activities, notably anti-tobacco drives and weekly phone-in programmes.
Speaking exclusively to daijiworld, current police commissioner T R Suresh said that the BJP had asked for permission to hold 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally on September 7, but it was denied. "On September 5, the BJP requested permission to hold public meet at Nehru Maidan, and we agreed. Today (September 6), they again asked permission to hold rally from Jyothi to DC's office, but we refused.
"We have imposed Section 35 of the Karnataka Police Act restricting bike rally and procession from September 6 to midnight of September 8. If any untoward incident occurs during this time, the organisers will be held responsible. There is no written bond from them yet," he said.
Heavy police deployment will be seen in the city on September 7. The police teams will consist of one team of Rapid Action Force, 15 KSRP platoons, 15 CAR platoons, eight SP level officers, 12 DySPs, 30 circle inspectors, 60 sub-inspectors, 600 constables and home guards.
Also, liquor shops and bars will remain closed on September 7 from 6 am to 6 pm within 3 km radius of Nehru Maidan.