The occasion also saw the formal launch of ‘Area Suraksha Mitra - Kannu Teri Bengaluru’ - an initiative to create safer neighbourhoods by utilising the power of citizens. The campaign is a joint initiative of the Directorate of Home Guards and Civil Defence along with the city police and Janaagraha.

Present during the occasion were Vijaya Kumar, ACP-Crime-Sanjay Nagar Division and Major General T M John (Retired). “One of the key achievements of an initiative such as this will be - better channels of communication between the citizens and the security agencies, as well as the reassurance of a safe neighbourhood,” said ACP Vijaya Kumar.

  The campaign aims to build a trained force through a representation from every neighbourhood, approximately 5,000 volunteers in the City. This will be organised through the Civil Defence structure of warden service and a citizen force of around 100 Area Suraksha Mitras in each of the 50 Civil Defence Wards.