The Hindu

MYSORE, Feb 20: The city police and Mysore Palace Board authorities have decided to revamp security at the Mysore Palace, one of the important monuments of the country, in view of the threat of terror attacks on several prominent cities and tourist centres across the country.

With the recent arrest of suspected terrorists in North Karnataka, the police have become extra vigilant. No visitor is allowed to enter the palace premises without thorough frisking.

The Palace Police have installed a door frame metal detector at Balarama Gate, opposite the Statue Circle, to frisk visitors coming to watch the illuminated palace on Sundays.

Although the queue is long, tourists, including several from foreign countries, patiently wait to get inside the palace.

“The arrangement may cause inconvenience to aged visitors and children, but we can’t help it. Security is of paramount importance,” a police officer overseeing security arrangements at Balarama Gate said.

Another door frame metal detector will be installed soon at Jayamarthanda Gate, facing Doddakere grounds. Visitors are allowed to enter from the gate only on Sundays.

The Varaha Gate, from where tourists enter on weekdays, already has a metal detector.

“We have procured a new metal detector door and some hand-held metal detectors for security. The door will be installed soon at Jayamarthanda Gate,” a senior official of the Mysore Palace Board told The Hindu.

The Palace Board installed closed circuit televisions at seven locations inside the palace to tighten security on the recommendations of the city police. Tourists inside the palace are screened at the control room in the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Palace Police.

The board, on the advice of the Police Commissioner, is procuring sophisticated surveillance cameras for being installed at five main palace gates — Varaha, Balarama, Jayamarthanda, Brahmapuri and Karikalthotti.

“The Board is looking for the highly advanced surveillance cameras, which need less maintenance.