Over 1,800 additional police personnel have arrived in the district from the eastern, southern and central ranges of the State ahead of the “Hindu Yuvajanotsava” being organised by the Bajrang Dal here on Sunday.
In addition, 12 units of the District Armed Reserve and 18 units of the Karnataka State Reserve Police will be pressed into service to prevent any untoward incident.
Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao told presspersons here on Saturday that the massive police force had been requisitioned to prevent communal violence, which had occurred during similar programmes in the past.
Warned
The entire programme, in which Varun Gandhi of the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to participate, will be closely monitored for provocative speeches. The organisers of the event have been warned of action in case such speeches are made. “The event will be recorded on video cameras,” he said.
Mr. Rao said that the police were in close contact with leaders of all communities. They had all given an assurance that peace and harmony would be maintained.
In an attempt to instil confidence among the people, the police conducted a flag march at various places under the jurisdiction of the Panambur, Mangalore and Puttur divisions of the district police.
Most of the communal clashes on March 15, 2009 occurred when those who attended the Hindu Samajotsava were returning home. “We have identified several sensitive spots across the district to put up pickets. There will also be check-posts at important points,” he said.
Traffic curbs
Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate V. Ponnuraj has imposed traffic curbs here on Sunday, in view of the Hindu yuvajanotsava. They will be in force till the end of the yuvajanotsava, an official press release said.
As part of the yuvajanotsava, a procession will be taken from Ambedkar Circle to Nehru Maidan through Hampankatta Circle, U.P. Mallya Road and A.B. Shetty Circle. Hence, no vehicles would be allowed to ply on this stretch from 1 p.m. till the end of the meet. Buses coming to the city from Udupi (National Highway 17) can come up to Lady Hill Circle through Urwa Stores and up to Mallikatta through Nanthoor. City buses from Kottara can come up to Lady Hill Circle. They will not be allowed to enter Car Street or Lalbagh.
Buses plying on NH 48 from B.C. Road and on NH 17 from Ullal and Talapady can come up to Kankanady Circle. They cannot enter Hampankatta or Balmatta. City buses can come up to Mangaladevi temple via Valencia and Jeppu.
They will not be allowed to enter State Bank of India bus-stand.
Buses coming to the city via Nanthoor (NH 13) can come up to Mallikatta. They will not be allowed to enter Bunts Hostel Circle or Balmatta.
Route no. 5 city buses will be allowed to ply between Morgan Gate and Kankanady, and route no. 27 between Mangaladevi temple and Ananda Shetty Circle at Attavara.
Buses coming to the city from Bondel, Kavoor and Bejai via Kuntikana can come only up to Lalbagh. They should return to Bondel and Bejai via Lady Hill Circle.
Route no. 15 buses should ply via Nanthoor and Mahaveera Circle on NH 17 and reach Mangaladevi temple via Kankanady Old Road and Valancia. In the return direction, they should join NH 17 via Mahakalipadpu.
Parking of vehicles on both sides of K.S. Rao Road, Phalnir Road and Light House Hill Road will be banned from Sunday afternoon till the end of the meet, the release said.
Appointed
Mr. Ponnuraj has appointed four special executive magistrates in four police station limits in the city in view of the Hindu yuvajanotsava.
These special executive magistrates will be in charge of maintaining the law and order. They will be on duty from January 23 to 25.
Madhukar M.K. Gadkar, Joint Commissioner, Mangalore City Corporation, will be in charge in Surathkal police station limits; Venkatesha Shindihatti, Assistant Labour Commissioner, will be in charge in Panambur police station limits; Sridhar, Assistant Executive Engineer, Urban Development Cell, Deputy Commissioner’s Office, will be in charge in Ullal police station limits; and B.K. Kusumadhar, Deputy Director, Land Records, will be in charge in Konaje police station limits, a press release said.
