The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Vidhana Soudha is more secure

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Tuesday, Dec 02, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Vidhana Soudha is more secure

Staff Reporter

Personnel of the strike force posted at the seat of government

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

All set: Personnel of the strike force who will be posted in various parts of the State. Director-General and Inspector-General of Police K. Sri Kumar reviewed the preparedness of the force in Bangalore on Monday.

BANGALORE: The newly constituted strike force of the Karnataka police has begun operation with one of its platoons posted at the Vidhana Soudha on Monday.

The specially trained and well-armed men of the strike force will also be stationed at important places including railway and bus stations, major dams, electricity generating stations and other major establishments, largely to instil confidence among the common people.

Director-General and Inspector-General of Police R. Sri Kumar said: “the commando force has been with us. The time has now come to display our capability. We reassure people of our preparedness to handle acts of terrorism. We are ready to lay down our lives, if situation warrants. ”

Mr. Sri Kumar spoke to the personnel and inspected their weapons.

He told presspersons that the platoon consisting of about 20 men is part the 120-member strike force deployed in Bangalore.

“While one platoon will be stationed at the Vidhana Soudha, the rest will be involved in training. This includes computer simulated operation of automatic weapons. We are keeping them in a dynamic state,” Mr. Sri Kumar said.

He said three more groups of the force were in other parts of the State, including Mangalore.

The strike force would be part of the Internal Security division that the State police were planning to set up. The other sections of the new division included the intelligence gathering stream and investigation.

“The recent conviction of the accused in the church blasts in 2000 is an instance of how methodical the investigation team is working,” Mr. Sri Kumar said.

He said the strike force had been given modern equipment and training. They have been given guns such as AK-47 and SLRs and bullet-proof jackets.

The force had been trained for three months by the National Security Guards.

Coastal security

On the vigilance of the coastline in the State, Mr. Sri Kumar said that the Coastal Security Force, which is posted across five police stations in Mangalore, was keeping vigil on the movement of boats.

The force had boats of its own and was also using those taken from fishermen.

Speaking to presspersons after an-all party meeting here on Monday, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said the State had 12 Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) battalions of 1,000 personnel each.

Some policemen had been given commando training while some others were sharp shooters. Commando training would be given to 100 policemen in each of the KSRP units, he said.

Stating that some vested elements wanted to disturb peace in Bangalore, the Chief Minister said the Government would not allow the Mumbai type of incidents to happen in the city.

“The Government was committed to providing security to lives and properties of the people in the State,” he said.

The Government would give permission for setting up checking equipment by private companies, luxury hotels and other business establishments.

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