A damp squib of a mock drill

Rain affects participation in 'anti-terror exercise' at Palike office

The day began on a normal note at the Palike office on Thursday. But around noon, the situation turned violent as a few ultras in a car gained entry inside, abducted a couple of citizens and exploded bombs. However, the Garuda Commando Force of the Karnataka police swung into action, killed the ultras and rescued innocent citizens. Fortunately, this was not a real-life situation, but a mock drill.

The mock drill organised by the Commando Force was aimed at creating awareness among the people and to train them to conduct themselves in an emergency situation.
However, the exercise was not received well by BBMP workers and citizens. While a few BBMP workers, who were selected to be part of the mock drill, did not perform their role properly, the citizens did not seem to bother much.

The mock drill was scheduled between 12.30 pm and 3 pm. The Garuda Force staff had prepared for more than two days for the drill. Mayor N Shanthakumari held a meeting on Thursday morning and detailed the BBMP staff about their roles and duties during the drill.

A few guards were deployed at the entrance. As per the plan, the guards were expected to stop a car in which ‘ultras’ would arrive at the gate. However, the guards were taking shelter inside a room as it was raining and the car entered without any obstruction. A bomb ‘exploded’ near the council office and the ‘ultras’ ‘abducted’ two persons. The guards, instead of participating in the drill, just watched it stupefied.

A few minutes later, one more bomb exploded, but nobody bothered about it as they were busy with their own works.

As per the plan, the BBMP commanding committee should have convened an ‘emergency meeting’ after receiving the message from the control room about the ‘terror strike’. But, the meeting did not take place at all. Members and presidents of various standing committees, who were watching the exercise along with deputy mayor Ranganna, seemed not serious and were heard cracking jokes.

The Garuda Force staff were disappointed at the lackadaisical approach of the BBMP staff and citizens towards the mock drill. When they apprised their unit chief about this, he decided to cut the exercise short. It had concluded in just 45 minutes.