Mutalik attack: Bundh partial

Love struck: As youngsters celebrate love, police gear up to protect them

Tight, overnight vigilance by the police ensured that no untoward incidents were reported in the City.

Director General and Inspector General of Police Ajai Kumar Singh, addressing mediapersons on Saturday said: “Hundreds of trouble mongers have been picked up and except for a few stone-throwing incidents in Mangalore, Udupi and Belgaum, the rest of the State was peaceful.”

He added that more than 90 KSRP platoons were deployed. Apart from Hoysala, Cheetah and mobile parties, the police had roped in extra forces. “We are well-equipped to handle the situation,” the DG&IG said.

When asked about the stone-pelting incident on senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes’s house, Ajai said: “It’s not true, the window panes were broken a few days ago. For a few hours, private buses in Mangalore went off roads, fearing trouble but by noon, it was normal.”

A partial bundh was observed in Belgaum, Udupi, Gadag, Hubli and Dharwad.

Malls, gift centres

Malls, gift centres, coffee shops and multiplexes are under the scanner. More than 20 CRPF and KSRP platoons, apart from 5,000 civil policemen will be deployed on Valentine’s Day.

“We will not allow or tolerate any untoward incidents and persons responsible have to face police action,” said Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari while talking about the security measures for Valentine’s Day.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress leaders Sreenivas and Manjunath, accused of blackening Mutalik’s face, have been sent to judicial custody till February 25.

The other three –– Mahesh, Karthik and Srikanth on whom a suo motu case was booked, managed to get bail. Sources said the three youths were college students from Vijayanagar and Govindraj Nagar.

Rowdy-sheeter tag

Sreenivas, the accused in Mutalik's case, is likely to go into the rowdy-sheeter’s list. The police are contemplating to open a rowdy-sheeter file on him as there are pending cases in High Grounds, Ulsoor Gate and in some police stations in Mysore.