MANGALORE: Police will provide a massive security cover all over the district on Sunday in view of two major religious events scheduled for the day — the Viraat Hindu Samajotsava here and the Mahamastakabhisheka starting at Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala. The scale of security arrangements, which will involve nearly 3,000 constables and officers, is expected to be one of the biggest in recent times.

Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) H.N. Sathyanarayana Rao told presspersons here on Thursday that the main aim of this large-scale deployment of police personnel was not only to ensure that the events were conducted in a peaceful manner but also to instil confidence among members of the minority communities that the Police Department would do everything within its power to maintain law and order.

`Prepared'

Stating that the Deputy Commissioner had given the organisers of the samajotsava here conditional clearance for the event, Mr. Rao said that the Police Department was prepared to meet any eventuality that might arise. Mangalore had been divided into 11 sectors, and mobile patrol units would be assigned to each of them. Separate security arrangements would also be made at each of the three police sub-divisions at Mangalore, Panambur and Puttur.

Besides mobilising the entire force of 1,100 policemen in the district, the Police Department had requisitioned the services of around 3,000 police officers and constables from the Western Range, Mr. Rao said. Further, 30 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police would be deployed throughout the district. The authorities had also requested the Union Government for the services of one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) on Sunday, he added.

Armed police pickets would be deployed at all important and sensitive places, he said. Senior police officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police would be assigned duty at Suratkal and Bantwal. Special Executive Magistrates too would be deployed, he said. Personnel of fire and emergency services and ambulances would also be kept on stand-by to deal with any exigencies that might arise, he added.

Ban on liquor

The Deputy Commissioner had banned sale of liquor for 24 hours from 6 a.m. on Sunday throughout the district, Mr. Rao said. He appealed to people to cooperate with the police and help in a peaceful conduct of the two events. He warned that the Police Department would deal sternly with anyone found spreading malicious text messages through their cellphones to incite communal passions.

Superintendent of Police B. Dayananda said all vehicles entering the city would be screened. He appealed to people to alert the police to any untoward incident that might occur.

Mr. Rao said the police would make preventive arrests of anti-social elements in the run-up to the events. He said the organisers of the events would be held responsible if any incidents took place.

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