City police gear up to ensure peace amid election preparations

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: While it is noteworthy that nothing so far has been done by the state government to curb hate speeches being delivered in poll-bound Karnataka in the guise of public rallies and speeches, the Bengaluru police has imposed strictures on conducting public programmes in temple premises and is taking written statements from leaders of Hindu organisations that they will not make provocative statements, so as to maintain law and order in the city.

However, the move has sparked outrage among several Hindu organisations here. According to sources, a recently conducted programme at the Srikanteshwara Temple near Chennammanakere Achukattu in Bengaluru was intercepted by the jurisdictional police who imposed restrictions and took statements from leaders of organisation saying that they will not make any statements that will threaten other communities and that no untoward incident occurs.

Hindu groups said that they have held 214 public awareness meetings and the members claimed that there were no restrictions so far. But, ahead of the elections, the police have started imposing restrictions they pointed out and said this exposes the duality of political parties when it comes to religious awareness.

President of Janajagruthi Samithi, Suresh, said that the police have been asking them to restrain from making controversial statements and also to obtain prior permission before holding any such programme in the city. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Bengaluru Police Commissioner CH Pratap Reddy said that all arrangements have been made to avoid any untoward incident amid preparations for the upcoming assembly elections.

"We are also keeping an eye on rowdy elements, and notorious and habitual offenders who have been released on bail recently. If they continue to cause trouble, we will issue a warrant against them and apprehend them again," he said.