Mangalore: IGP Ashit Prasad Leads 5-km-long Police Flag March
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje - Daijiworld Media Network
News: The Hindu
MANGALORE, Apr 12: It was sweat and glory for the nearly 500 policemen from Panambur and Mangalore sub-divisions here on Friday. These personnel, in ranks from constable to Superintendent of Police, staged a flag march under the command of Inspector-General of Police (Western Range). It took off from the District Police ground and culminated at Karnataka Polytechnic on Kadri Hills. It was part of a measure to boost the confidence of people for the Assembly elections to be held in May.
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The policemen covered the five-kilometre distance in one hour, a feat which prompted the IGP, Ashit Mohan Prasad, to certify them as “fully fit”. Speaking to The Hindu after the flag march, Mr. Prasad said the march was organised to ensure the fitness and alertness of the police ahead of the May 16 polling in the district. “It is also to instil confidence among people that the department is geared up to face the election,” he added.
The Election Commission had directed the department to undertake this exercise to ensure good turn out in the elections. It would be repeated after the district got its share of para-military forces, he said and added that the march would be organised in all taluks. On reasons for including the paramilitary forces in this exercise, Prasad said that the commission had envisaged an important role for them in the forthcoming general elections. Such police-public interface would not only increase their visibility among people but also provide the paramilitary forces an opportunity to know the areas where they would be discharging their duties, he said.
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While the State Government had allotted adequate platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police to Dakshina Kannada for the pre-poll security arrangements, the size of paramilitary force being allocated to the district would soon be intimated to us, he said. There would be more number of police personnel in constituencies and booths which were deemed sensitive, Prasad said.
Special squads’ role
The commission, during its State-level review meeting with senior Police and Revenue officials, had instructed the authorities concerned to keep a strict vigilance on the movement of illicit liquor and hawala money. The specialised squads, including the District Crime Intelligence Bureau, in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Chikmagalur district of western range, had been entrusted the task of dealing with this vital issue, he said.
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Police would play an important role in implementing the model code of conduct for elections. The commission had instructed the police to deal sternly with violations of the code. The idea was to ensure that the electorate went about exercising their franchise in a free and fair manner, Prasad said.