The Hassan police have planned to beef up the security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelgola. There is will be no chance for any participant to escape the cameras.
The police are installing 100 CCTV cameras at various strategic locations. Besides, 40 policemen will be moving about in the public with hand-held cameras, according to official sources.
“We have taken appropriate measures to ensure smooth and peaceful Kannada literary meet. As many as 1,200 policemen will be on duty at the venue,” Superintendent of Police Ravi D. Channannavar told presspersons here on Friday.
The police staff on duty would include 100 officers, 10 platoons of KSRP and 15 platoons of District Reserve Police. About 50 policemen would be in mufti. Policemen from Kodagu, Mysuru, Ramanagaram and Dakshina Kannada would be pressed into service for the occasion, he said.
Meanwhile, many people are of the view that a security of that magnitude was unnecessary. Harigopal, a former president of the Hassan district Kannada Sahitya Parishat, who has attended numerous sammelans in the past, said “It is a literary and cultural event. There is no need to have such a huge security cover. A majority of people come to listen to speeches, purchase books and meet a few old friends. I don’t see any reason to anticipate untoward incidents occurring during the programme,” he said.
Akshata Hunchadakatte, poet and publisher, said she was surprised by the magnitude of security arrangements planned for the event. “Installation of CCTV cameras gives a feeling that we are being watched. What is the purpose of installing so many cameras? There is no history of violence in the events of this nature,” she said. She quickly added, “Of course, a majority of participants of the sammelan believe that pen is mightier than sword or other weapons and they will not carry any weapons for such programmes.”
It’s a literary and cultural meet. There is no need to have such a huge security cover…Harigopal, former president of Hassan KSP
10 platoons of KSRP and 15 of District Reserve Police deployed at Shravanabelagola
People say security arrangements of such magnitude unnecessary for a literary meet
