Home Minister G. Parameshwara on Tuesday said the police have taken up the task of mapping the city to determine sensitive and non-sensitive areas in order to beef up security.
Addressing reporters here, Mr. Parameshwara said once the mapping is completed the police would decide on ways to enhance security in sensitive areas. “We will provide suitable security, including enhancing surveillance, in the areas that are communally sensitive. We will deploy additional personnel there,” he said.
He clarified that this exercise was Mysuru-specific, although similar mapping is being undertaken in other cities and towns as well. It is expected to balance the additional requirements in a particular area with the available manpower by removing police staff from non-sensitive areas.
The Minister said the government was aware of the staff shortage in the Police Department and has taken steps to overcome it. Recruitment of additional staff is on, he said.
‘Police handled
bandh well’
Mr. Parameshwara was in the city to supervise the law and order situation following the murder of BJP activist Raju on Sunday and the subsequent city bandh called by Hindu organisations on Monday.
He dismissed allegations that the police had failed to anticipate the violence reported during the bandh and said there were stray and isolated incidents of violence but by and large, the police had handled the situation well.
Condoning Raju’s murder, the Minister said he has directed the police to get to the root of the matter. He also dismissed suggestions that the police were slow in getting a handle on the situation.
He said he had received news of the murder at 7 p.m. on Sunday and had immediately directed officials to take all precautionary measures. “Additional forces were rushed from neighbouring districts and 17 police platoons was deployed in the city,” he said.
He lashed out at the BJP and other right-wing organisations, accusing them of politicising the tragedy.
The Minister also denied the BJP’s allegation that Raju had even sought police protection citing a threat to his life.
'The BJP and
other right-wing organisations
are politicising
the tragedy’
