Karnataka - Mysore   

`Mob violence': RAF in action

Staff Correspondent

DISPLAY: Rapid Action Force personnel presenting a mock drill at Bannimantap Grounds in Mysore. — PHOTO: M A SRIRAM

MYSORE: The Rapid Action Force (RAF) resorted to lathicharge, lobbed tear gas shells and fired in the air to quell an unruly mob at Bannimantap Grounds here as part of a mock drill on Monday evening.

The personnel were exhibiting their skills in containing mob violence during riots. The 40-minute presentation began with a platoon of RAF arriving in a van, trooping out of the vehicle and taking their assigned positions in platoon formation.

This is how it unfolded: an aggressive mob comes shouting slogans and submits a memorandum to the District Magistrate (played by a policeman) and begins discussions. Soon, the peace talks fail and the mob is agitated. The RAF calls for maintenance of peace through the public address system. But the protesters fail to heed the call and begin pelting stones at the security personnel.

By then, the RAF's platoon formation is in place with personnel wielding lathis and holding armours in the front, followed by tear gas-lobbing troops and the firing unit positioned in the rear.

The mob cannot be brought under control despite lathicharge by the RAF troops. When the unruly mob refuses to yield to the final warning given by the RAF, tear gas shells are hurled to defuse the tension. As a last resort, the RAF appears to open fire. In the melee, one demonstrator lies down, indicating that he has been felled. Finally, the RAF manages to disperse the unruly crowd by charging at them with canes and rifles.

The mock drill was aimed at educating the public about the procedures followed by the RAF. It waspresented by a 120-strong RAF platoon from Coimbatore that was deployed in the Cauvery basin districts recently.

City Police Commissioner Pravin Sood said another demonstration by the RAF would soon be held at Oval Grounds. RAF Commandant S.S. Sidhu, and Deputy Commissioners of Mysore City Police Rajendra Prasad and K.T. Balakrishna were present.

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