Mysuru cops to ‘clean up’ Chamundi Hills

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Mysuru: Cops in Mysuru have launched ‘Operation Chamundi’ to flush out anti-social elements and stop them from engaging in shady activities atop the hill shrine after sunset. The route to the hill top was used by youth to engage in wheeling and record the act on their mobile phones besides sharing photos on social media platforms.

Till a few years ago, the three to four entry points to the hill top were open 24 X 7 as people were eager to catch a glimpse of the entire city after sunset. For this purpose, the authorities had created a view point from where the city could be viewed and captured on camera. This point would be filled with tourists during weekends and during the Dasara festival.

Subsequently, the authorities fixed iron gates at all entry points and restricted the movement of people after 8 pm to check activities like drug abuse, boozing, wheeling and jolly rides. Now entry to the hill top after restricted hours is meant only for residents of Chamundi Hill.

Despite putting up iron gates, urchins and anti-social elements manage to sneak in from other points and indulge in illegal activities after sunset. To check this, police commissioner Dr Chandragupta has deployed staff at various points to prevent the entry of such people who will also be penalised. Youth who engage in wheeling on the hill road will be punished and their two-wheelers seized. A heavy penalty will also be imposed on youth in four-wheelers who enter the hill after restricted hours.

A senior police officer said since it is not possible to monitor the entire hill with a handful of staff and so all entry points will be blocked after 8 pm. A number of wild animals like leopards have been run over by speeding vehicles in the night. The small hillocks have become dens for drug abusers and boozers. Some devotees are facing problems in having darshan of Goddess Chamundeshwari but nothing can be done as the hill had become an abode for drug users. The police department has become extra cautious after the alleged gangrape of a girl in the foothills of Chamundi, he added.