IGP reviews law and order in Shivamogga ahead of Bakrid
Shivamogga: Eastern range IGP BR Ravikanthe Gowda conducted a law and order assessment in Shivamogga following Tuesday night's lathicharge during RCB celebrations. He spent Wednesday in the city until evening, conducting meetings with officials.
Given that Shivamogga city is communally sensitive and with the upcoming Eid ul-Adha celebrations on Saturday, additional security measures were implemented.
Police officers reported that Tuesday night's RCB celebration became problematic. Youths continued gathering near sensitive religious centres beyond permitted hours, disrupting traffic. A concurrent motorcycle accident resulted in one fatality.
The officers noted that the necessary lathicharge effectively dispersed the crowd from sensitive areas, bringing the situation under control.
Speaking to TOI, activist Chirag expressed concerns about potential incidents similar to the Bengaluru stampede, acknowledging that police intervention prevented escalation.
Shivamogga DC Gurudatta Hegde appealed to residents to maintain communal harmony, highlighting the district's history of peaceful festival celebrations.
He urged citizens to celebrate responsibly while disregarding attempts to create community discord. The DC stressed community cohesion as essential for national security. He commended the police department's inclusive approach and festival preparations.
Additionally, he cautioned about social media misuse, requesting elders to guide young people and report concerns to relevant authorities.
He confirmed the continuous availability of district administration and police to maintain peace during festivities.
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