Mysuru: Karnataka DG&IGP M A Saleem on Wednesday reviewed the security preparedness of the Mysuru city and district police ahead of the 11-day Dasara celebrations scheduled to begin on October 11.
Saleem, accompanied by Mysuru City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar and senior police officials, inspected several key venues, including the Mysuru Palace, where the Dasara procession will begin, the Kambala venue in east Mysuru, the Yuva Dasara venue and the Banni Mantap parade grounds.
Focus on crowd management and security
During the review, Saleem directed police officials to ensure that the celebrations are conducted without incidents and without causing inconvenience to the public, tourists and VVIPs.
The inspection focused on crowd management, entry and exit arrangements, barricading, surveillance coverage, traffic diversions, emergency response preparedness and deployment of police personnel at major venues.
Police officials said additional manpower and barricades have been sought for this year’s celebrations considering the expected increase in visitor numbers and the number of events being held across the city.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harsh Priyamvada said the additional personnel would help the city police manage crowds and maintain law and order at important Dasara locations.
Additional force for Kambala
Saleem also inspected the venue for the Kambala event, which has been added to this year’s Dasara programme. The event will be held near the VTU regional campus in east Mysuru.
Around 150 pairs of buffaloes are expected to participate in the two-day event, which is scheduled to begin at 9 am on October 18 and continue into the following night.
The extended duration and expected turnout mean that police will have to maintain security arrangements at the venue for nearly 48 hours. Additional personnel will therefore be deployed to ensure crowd management and uninterrupted security throughout the event.
Police officials said the Kambala event is expected to draw a large number of visitors, making adequate manpower and traffic management particularly important.
Yuva Dasara and VVIP security
The DG&IGP also visited the Yuva Dasara venue in east Mysuru and the Banni Mantap parade grounds in north Mysuru.
Banni Mantap will host VVIPs on the final day of the celebrations. Security arrangements at the venue were reviewed as part of the overall preparedness for the concluding events.
Saleem assured officials that additional police personnel would be provided from outside the range to strengthen security arrangements. This is particularly significant as Yuva Dasara and Kambala are scheduled within a seven-day period, placing additional demands on the existing police force.
Tourist-friendly policing
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic and Crime) K S Sundar Raj said Saleem instructed officers to adopt a tourist-friendly approach during the celebrations.
Police have been asked to ensure smooth movement of VVIPs while also facilitating the movement of tourists and members of the public attending various Dasara programmes.
Traffic management will be a key component of the security plan, with police expected to regulate vehicle movement and implement diversions around major event venues based on crowd and traffic conditions.
With several major programmes being conducted simultaneously across Mysuru, the police department is working on coordinated deployment plans to ensure security, crowd control and smooth traffic movement throughout the 11-day celebrations.