Cauvery dispute verdict on Monday, city police on alert

Cauvery dispute verdict on Monday, city police on alert

The Hindu

City police in touch with intelligence agencies to keep subversive forces at bay

# Efforts on to ensure that Aero India 2007 is not disrupted
# Security plan being put in place, additional forces sought

BANGALORE: With the Cauvery Waters Dispute Tribunal scheduled to deliver its final verdict on February 5, the Bangalore police are stepping up security to pre-empt trouble.

Commissioner of Police Neelam Achuta Rao told presspersons on Thursday that as the Cauvery waters issue was an "emotional" one, the police have decided to tighten security. The officers are evaluating the situation and a detailed "bandobust" plan is being worked out with focus on sensitive areas and roads. Additional forces are being summoned from other places.

The Commissioner said the police were working in coordination with the Central and State intelligence agencies to ensure that subversive forces do not disrupt the Aero India-2007 scheduled to be held here from February 6.

Although the Central intelligence agencies have not provided any specific inputs on the possible sabotage, they have sounded a general alert. In view of Bangalore being high on the terrorist radar, security has been strengthened for the air show, which will see several foreign companies participate.

The Karnataka Tamils Federation has sought security for Tamils in view of the final verdict of the tribunal.

A release from federation president A.P. Shanmuga Sundaram said the request had been made to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Chief Secretary P.B. Mahishi and Director-General of Police K.R. Srinivasan have also been briefed about it.

The release said people from all parts of the country live in Karnataka and have a harmonious relationship with one another. "But in 1991 some politically motivated people caused disturbances in the name of Cauvery dispute following the interim order of the tribunal. The riots ruined many Tamil families," it said.