JOINT EFFORT: Former Minister Jabbarkhan Honnali, Police Commissioner Narayan Nadamani, Ministers Basavaraj Horatti and Jagadish Shettar, MP Pralhad Joshi and former MLA Ashok Katwe at the peace meeting in Hubli on Saturday.

HUBLI: The Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionerate has made elaborate security arrangements in the wake of Virat Hindu Samajotsava in Hubli on Monday and observance of Moharram on Tuesday.

Addressing presspersons here on Saturday, Police Commissioner Narayan Nadamani said security had been tightened in twin cities and anybody trying to cause disturbance would be booked under the provisions of Goonda Act.

He said the police would be taking into custody anti-social elements by Sunday evening. Police officials have been directed to submit the final list of troublemakers in their area immediately.

Apart from deploying additional forces at strategic points, video cameras would be installed to record the activities of persons participating in the samajotsava, Mr. Nadamani said.

Ten platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 200 Home Guards and police personnel from neighbouring districts would be deployed for security on Monday and Tuesday.

No Shobha Yatra

To a query, the Commissioner said as a precautionary measure, it was decided to deny permission for "Shobha Yatra" on the day of the samajotsava. However, members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were given permission to conduct a marchpast on the stipulated route on that day, he said. There would be no change in the allotted route, he added.

Peace meeting

Several leaders, cutting across party lines, appealed to citizens of Hubli-Dharwad to maintain peace in the twin cities, at a "Peace Meeting" organised by the Hubli-Dharwad Police Commissionerate on Saturday.

Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar said people of twin cities have realised the adverse impact of communal violence on development. He appealed to Hindus and Muslims to exercise restraint and not believe rumours spread by vested interests.

Former Minister Jabbarkhan Honnalli underscored the need for maintaining communal harmony in the interest of development. He said the leaders of the community would extend all cooperation to the Police Department in preventing any attempt to create disturbance.

`Streamline traffic'

Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti stressed the need for streamlining movement of vehicles, especially during processions and protest marches. "Anti-social elements should be apprehended immediately irrespective of the community they belong to," he said.

Other leaders, including MP Pralhad Joshi, former MLA Ashok Katwe, former Mayors Anilkumar Patil, Firdouz Konnur and Prakash Kyarakatti, office bearers of Anjuman-e-Islam urged the public to scuttle any attempt to create confusion.

The Police Commissioner explained the steps being taken to maintain law and order situation. Deputy Commissioners of Police D. Prakash and R. Dileep were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail