Watch towers, sky sentries to keep a check

BENGALURU: In view of the Karnataka High Court pulling up the police department for crimes against women during New Year’s eve in 2016, City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar on Friday filed an affidavit before court explaining the elaborate security measures his men will take to prevent such incidents this year.

The affidavit was submitted before a division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar through Additional Advocate General A S Ponnanna in response to public interest litigation seeking ban on liquor on December 31 and January 1.

Suneel Kumar stated on oath that the action/measures will be implemented by the police with the utmost care and caution. The city police are taking all necessary steps to ensure that no untoward incident occurs in city on December 31, 2017 and January 1, 2018 and law and order are maintained. All officers and men and women personnel of Bengaluru city police (civil and traffic) will be on duty from 4 pm on December 31 to the early hours of January 1, the Commissioner said.

As far as MG Road and Brigade Road -- where large gatherings of revellers are expected -- the Commissioner said watch towers will be erected on these roads. Sky sentries will also be posted at strategic locations on MG Road and Brigade Road with binoculars to monitor crowd movement and celebrations. Wherever such monitoring is required other than MG Road and Brigade Road, necessary steps will be taken to ensure safety of people, he stated.  

He further stated in respect of these two roads, entry will be restricted from 11 pm on December 31 and the number of persons who will be allowed will also be regulated in accordance with the capacity of the area. Stringent action will be taken against rule-breakers and lawless elements.
“A meeting will be held with stake-holders, like merchant associations and clubs in the respective areas — about the arrangements to be made for New Year’s eve. There are about 715 CCTV cameras functional in the city. Arrangements are being made to install about 200 more CCTV cameras in places where there will be large gatherings of people,” the Commissioner stated.  

He explained that policemen in plainclothes (mufti) will be posted in and around bars, pubs and other important places. They will be on the lookout for trouble-makers. Anti-sabotage checks will be carried out using sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads. The counter-terrorism commando force ‘Garuda’ will be placed at strategic locations across Bengaluru to respond in case of an eventuality.
In sensitive areas, the Commissioner said, reflective jackets will be issued to men and officers. This will ensure that police presence is visible at night time. Centralised monitoring system will be placed at the control room. Additional lighting arrangements will be made in consultation with Bescom and organisers of events on the said dates.

Mobile squads will be deployed to pick up and remove trouble-makers prior to or on the said dates. Preventive detention of anti-social elements will be carried out, he said.