Karnataka on high security alert after Centre's directions: Yediyurappa

Karnataka, and Bengaluru in particular, has been on high security alert since Friday. Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao, in a memo, sought deployment of City Armed Reserve Police across the city. Deputy and additional commissioners have been instructed to "sensitise high alert" at all iconic institutions like Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha, High Court, railway stations, Bengaluru Metro, KSRTC and BMTC bus stations, high-end schools, malls, five-star hotels and markets in their respective jurisdictions.

While no specific reason for the alert was mentioned in the memo, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, who is in Delhi, told reporters on Saturday morning that the security alert was sounded following directions from Central intelligence.

"The state has been put on high alert following directions from the Central intelligence. The state police has tightened the security and there is no need to panic," said Yediyurappa. In Mangaluru, fishermen have been asked by police to keep vigil and report unusual incidents or suspicious people. Coastal districts in the state are also on high alert, in particular the nuclear power plant at Kaiga and other sensitive installations.

Meanwhile, the police have stepped up surveillance in Bengaluru. The memo has called for a high level of police presence and visibility continuously till further orders, seeking area domination from beat level to division level.

The memo directs that each division of the police is to have three parties of City Armed Reserve, and police checkposts will be set up at important locations. The police force has been asked to ensure the CCTVs are functional and verify antecedents of people with suspicious behaviour. Police have also been ordered to detain suspiciously moving vehicles at the borders, seize unattended baggage in public places and inspect paying guest accommodations and service apartments near religious places.