No permission for Bengaluru bandh: City police commissioner

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: The City Police Commissioner B Dayananda on Monday clarified that there is no room for a forceful bandh on Tuesday.

He added that provision is only given to observe peaceful protest in the premises of the Freedom Park in Bengaluru. In the backdrop of the bandh call given by political parties and organisations condemning the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, the top cop has imposed CrPC Section 144 restricting the assembly of five or more people in the city on Tuesday.

The Police Commissioner warned of stringent action against anyone involved in any untoward incidents such as stone pelting or damaging public property during the protest.

During the last bandh observed on September 11, the police had booked cases against 13 persons for allegedly damaging vehicles and assaulting biketaxi drivers.

"The protestors have sought permission for a protest march from the Town Hall to Freedom Park. The High Court had warned them that the organisers would be held responsible if anything goes wrong," Dayananda said.

The police department has deployed over 10,000 policemen for the security around the city. Dayananda explained that the department will be deputing 100 platoons of Special Forces in the city including 60 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 40 platoons of the City Armed Reserve (CAR).

If necessary, the buses from Tamil Nadu will be given protection, he said. "There is no problem if people observe bandh on their own. But forcing people to shut down their shops and offices will not be allowed," he said.

Along with the police, the special wing officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Internal Security Division (ISD) will also be deputed, the top cop explained.

However he also said that the decision to ply or not will have to be taken by the managers of buses attached to the Tamil Nadu Road Transport Corporation. "All precautions are being taken to ensure no untoward incident takes place in the city," he added.