Actor Upendra lauds police as 'real stars'

‘Real Star’ Upendra couldn’t have asked for better than this. For the first time he plays the role of a police in ‘Aarakshaka’ slated to hit screens soon.

Also, for the first time he was a part of ‘police-public friendly’ initiative launching ‘Namma Shaale Police’ here on Friday.

Namma Shaale Police is intended at teaching students the basics of traffic rules at schools. A total of 255 police personnel have been entrusted with the task at equal number of schools in the city.

The star who had headed straight to city after climax shot of his next flick, made a honest statement. “From cap to uniform decorated with stars, they are indeed real stars,” Upendra lauded men in khaki to the applause of the gathering.

What had doubled his respect for sentinels of the society was their welfare activities keeping in mind the safety of the society. He said, the police he knew earlier was one nabbing thieves and another imposing fine on traffic offenders.

He recalled an incident closely connected to his life which still haunts him. He was a school going boy, witness to his close friend Venkatesh’s death. He was mowed down by a lorry.

Said Upendra: “It’s easy to predict death of those suffering from chronic diseases like AIDS and cancer, but not accident.”

Mincing no words, Upendra said his mentality is akin to that of infamous dictator Adolf Hitler and demanded the police to frame a law that could send drunk-driving offenders to 20 years jail.

Before summing up his speech, he rendered a line from his previous release ‘Super’, but in praise of police “Police superroo... ranga...”

Earlier police commissioner Sunil Agarwal said the police personnel identified for ‘Namma Shaale’ have been provided with 500 cellphones, given by Airtel. The stickers carrying the details of respective police will be pasted in every school. It contains the name and cell phone number of the particular men, and other contact numbers.

NCC and naval cadets were conferred honorary certificate for their service during previous ‘Nada Habba’ Dasara. Prizes were distributed to the winners of drawing competitions organised as part of 23rd national road safety week.

The programme also marked the valedictory of safety week.

Commissioner of MCC K S Raykar, DCPs Basavaraj Malagathi (law and order), P Rajendra Prasad (crime and traffic) and M N Prabhashankar (CAR), mounted police commandant S J Marib Shetty and CEO of Airtel Rohit Malhotra were present.