Freedom Park in Bengaluru became the epicentre of a major protest rally, Our Vote, Our Right, Our Fight, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. The event drew between 10,000 and 20,000 supporters from across Karnataka, many eager to hear Gandhi speak and catch a glimpse of him in person. The demonstration aimed to highlight alleged voter fraud in the state.
Given the massive turnout — and mindful of the recent tragic stampede at Chinnaswamy Stadium — Bengaluru Police deployed around 6,000 personnel to ensure crowd control and safety. Additional reinforcements from the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and City Armed Reserve (CAR) were stationed at the venue and around the State Election Commission office.
“We planned it keeping both traffic and law-and-order needs in mind. Our priority was to ensure city life wasn’t disrupted,” said Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh. Elaborate logistics were put in place, including designated drop-off points at Palace Grounds for buses, two-wheeler parking zones, and four-wheeler parking at Kanteerava Stadium.
The arrangements ensured smooth traffic flow and peaceful conduct of the rally. Police presence remained heavy across the protest site and key nearby locations to prevent any untoward incidents.
The peaceful yet high-profile gathering underscored growing political tensions over voter list integrity while showcasing the city’s capacity to manage large-scale demonstrations without disruption