B'lore security high on PM's agenda

B'lore security high on PM's agenda
DH News Service, Bangalore:
With the Mumbai terror strikes triggering a nationwide alert, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's first action after landing in Bangalore for a one-day visit was to do a reality check on Bangalore's security...


City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari was told that the city police had to be prepared as their responsibilities had increased.

Minutes after reaching the Yelahanka Air Force Station, the Prime Minister reminded Bidari of the responsibility of the police force to ensure security. “Singh told me that Bangalore is an important city. Hence, responsibility of the police is high. He wished me good luck,” Bidari told Deccan Herald. Bidari had been standing in the line to receive him at the Air Force Station.

A series of eight low-intensity blasts in Bangalore on July 25 had claimed a woman’s life and injured 15 others. This was the first major attack here after the December 2005 IISc attack, which killed an IIT-Delhi professor and wounded four others.

Meanwhile, the State Government requested the PM to sanction one unit of National Security Guards to Bangalore with immediate effect and three battalions of the Indian Reserve Police besides an Indo-Tibet Border Protection Force in Belgaum.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, on behalf of all political parties in the state, submitted a memorandum seeking help from the prime minister to step up internal security in Karnataka. Congress leaders R V Deshpande, Mallikharjun Kharge and Dharam Singh, JD (U) leader M P Nadagouda were among those present when the memorandum was submitted to the PM at Raj Bhavan. There was no representative from the
JD (S).

Yeddyurappa also sought establishment of 18 coastal check-posts and 33 outposts to maintain vigil on the 300 kms coastline. He also also wanted the Centre to provide two helicopters with day-and-night operational capacity for surveillance and emergency rescue operations and appointment of an additional 30 officers in the IPS cadre.

Rs 20 crore sought

The Chief Minister sought allocation of Rs 20 crore for providing GPS facility to 3,000 fishing boats and related infrastrcture along the coast line.

The Chief Minister pointed out that Karnataka has vital installations like the HAL, ISRO, NAL and IISc besides IT companies and MNCs. Providing safety and security to these organisations and to the people working there was extremely important.

The CM, while participating in the inauguration of the IISc centenary celebrations, said that the country was passing through a difficult phase. The recent terrorist attacks on Mumbai and the aftereffects have shaken the country.

Sink differences

It was the primary duty of every Indian to sink the differences and come together to join hands with the Centre as well as state governments in its efforts to ensure total security to the people and safeguard the interests of the nation.

He said the government had decided to enhance its existing security arrangements to face any unforeseen eventuality. The effect of the Centre was the need of the hour, he added.

Home minister V S Acharya, briefing the media after submitting the memorandum to the prime minister, said the prime minister had assured the state that he would consider all the demands placed before him. He also suggested meeting the Union Home Minister and discuss the requirements to beef up the security in the state in detail.