The State capital has been placed under high security in view of the Onam festivities with the City police deploying 1500 police personnel in various parts.
According to City police commissioner P. Prakash, the additional reinforcements include around 150 personnel who will be deployed to the city from other districts to assist in the maintenance of law and order. Led by him, the security measures will be coordinated by two Deputy Commissioners of Police, 13 Assistant Commissioners, 18 Circle Inspectors and 110 Sub-Inspectors. Besides the deployment of 1500 personnel, there will also be shadow police, non-uniformed personnel and women police officers stationed at various places.
Tight security will be imposed on the 26 venues of the Onam celebrations in the city. In order to intensify surveillance during the period, as many as hundred CCTV cameras, installed in addition to the existing 223 ones, will be made operational. Moreover, nearly 30 vehicles that are equipped with moving cameras will remain mobile as part of continuous patrolling. Bomb squads will conduct inspections at various places.
Aiding the patrolling efforts will be the booster bike patrolling teams and the Mounted police which will be tasked with keeping an eye on bylanes and other stretches. Vehicle checks will be intensified at the boundary points of the city. To ensure the security of women, pink patrol and pink beat teams will be deployed to various parts. No efforts will be spared to prevent anti-social activities including theft, clashes and eve-teasing, particularly when the city is expected to be brimming with huge crowds during the next few days, Mr. Prakash said.
Special control rooms will be operationalised at the Kananakunnu Palace premises, Poojappura, Central Stadium, East Fort, Kovalam, Kazhakuttom and Shangumughom to coordinate the security measures and extend every possible assistance to the public.
Designated parking spots:
In view of the high traffic volume that will be witnessed in the coming days, the police will impose strict restrictions on parking vehicles. While parking by the side of major roads will be prohibited, an additional number of designated parking spots will be readied to ensure public convenience. Besides the permanent parking areas, the police have arranged temporary spots the St. Joseph’s Higher Secondary School, Fort High School, Government Central High School in Attakulangara, SMV School, Government Higher Secondary School for Boys and Government Girls High School in Chalai, Government Girls School in Peroorkada, St. Antony’s School in Valiyathura, Salvation Army Higher Secondary School in Kowdiar and Government Boys School in Pettah.
Parking will also be permitted at other places including the Government Arts Colleges, Government Women’s College, Swathi Thirunal College of Music, LBS Institute of Technology for Women in Poojappura, Kerala Chalachitra Academy in Sasthamangalam, Kerala Water Authority compound in Vellayambalam, Jimmy George Stadium, LMS ground and Barton Hill. (EOM/SBG)
