Apart from making elaborate security arrangements in view of the Lok Sabha elections, the State police have set up special anti-suicide squad in each district to monitor protests and political rallies and to keep an eye on people resorting to pressure tactics by attempting suicide.
Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) M.N. Reddi told presspersons here on Friday that special squads, comprising plainclothes policemen, a medical team and an ambulance, would be deployed in sensitive areas to keep a close watch on those attempting such tactics. The squad would rescue and take into custody such persons and initiate strict action against them, Mr. Reddi said.
CM’s directiveTaking a serious note of the suicide by Vittal Arabhavi, a sugarcane farmer, during the legislature session in Belgaum, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed the Home Department to initiate measures to prevent such incidents in future. Mr. Siddaramaiah had directed the State police chief during the annual police officers conference to set up special squads to check such pressure tactics by protesters.
Elaborating on the security arrangements, Mr. Reddi said check-posts had been set up at border areas. The move had already yielded results with the Hubli police on Friday arresting two persons and confiscating Rs. 45 lakh being transported to Gujarat in a private bus, he said.
The State police have sought 62 platoons of paramilitary forces along with 53 platoons of State reserve police force and 19,000 Home Guards to maintain law and order during the elections.
The police have prepared a list of highly sensitive and sensitive areas, and additional forces would be deployed in Maoist-affected areas during the elections.
