First flight amid tight security

First flight amid tight security
Keerthana Thorat | TNN



As the first aircraft took to the skies from the Bengaluru International Airport, amidst many apprehensions on Friday midnight, a force of nearly 2,000 policemen stood guard on the airport premises and the road en route.
These cops — from the city police force, Karnataka State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve and Central Paramilitary Force — were deployed for security at the airport and surrounding areas on D-Day. The city cops included three deputy commissioners of police, 32 assistant commissioners of police, 76 inspectors, 200 sub-inspectors and constables.
To provide peripheral security to the airport, the city police had proposed setting up of a separate division and new police stations. The new DCP (North-East), Basavaraj Malgatti, told TOI “We have received gazatte notifications for the setting up of ten police stations. Of these, two — at Yelahanka and Yelahanka New Town — already function. We are operating from these stations. The others will start functioning within a week or two.”
The other police stations will be set up at Devanahalli, Kodigehalli, Amruthahalli, Sampigehalli, Kothanur, Bagalur, Chikkajala and at BIA.
For the safety of commuters travelling to the airport, the police have set up check-posts at every junction on the way. Malgatti added that Hoysalas and Cheetahs will patrol the stretch night and day.
The North-East division will consist of three sub-divisions — at Devanahalli, Yelahanka and Sampigehalli.
Two sub-divisions will comprise three police stations, while one will have four.
Three assistant commissioners of police will be posted for the three sub-divisions.
Each police station will consist of a police inspector, SIs, ASIs and constables.