Security upped in state ahead of today's SC verdict on Cauvery row

The Karnataka state police have made heightened the security arrangements in many parts of the state as the Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce the final orders on Cauvery river water sharing dispute, on Friday.

Senior police officials have been deployed at sensitive places in the state to maintain public order.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy told DH that preventive measures will be taken in view of the judgement. "I spoke to senior officials the moment it was known that the verdict will be out on Friday morning. Our police are all set to avert any possible law and order troubles. Besides, our police department has the previous experience and they know exactly the places they need to concentrate on,'' he said.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant said that additional forces have already been deployed at sensitive places. "After the last hearing in the Supreme Court, we knew that the final order would come soon. Police officials in vulnerable districts were asked to hold meetings with farmer leaders. We have been requesting them to maintain peace and order, stating it is completion of a legal process which has to be respected,'' he said.

Pant said that besides persuading farmers to respect the Supreme Court order, adequate security arrangements has been put in place. "Our priority will be providing additional security cover to reservoirs, mainly the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and the Kabini in Mandya and Mysuru districts respectively. The other priority is deployment of forces on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and certain sensitive areas in Mandya, Mysuru and other places,'' Pant said.

A senior police official from the Bengaluru Police Commissionerate said that platoons from Karnataka State Reserve Police and Rapid Action Force have been pooled in to provide security in the city.

"There will be additional deployment of security at sensitive places across the city. The security cover will be in place from Friday morning,'' an official said.