Date:10/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/10/stories/2008101051470300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Jamboo Savari passes off peacefully

Shankar Bennur

Security was tightened in Mysore city in the wake of the recent blasts

Cellphone signal jammer vehicle moved in front
of the howdah-carrying elephant
Ten anti-sabotage teams were pressed
into service

MYSORE: The police here heaved a sigh of relief when Jamboo Savari, which marks the end of Dasara festivities, passed off smoothly on Thursday.

Security was tightened in the city in the wake of recent blasts in Bangalore and other parts of the city. It is learnt that there was one policeman for every 100 people during the event on Thursday.

Perhaps, the strategy to deploy many plainclothes policemen in the midst of crowds worked well for the police who, besides monitoring suspicious persons and objects, were updating their higher ups on the security situation.

Police sources said that the security cover to the palace and the procession route was sanitised several hours before the procession commenced. Ten anti-sabotage teams were pressed into service in view of the threat perception. The teams sanitised the palace and the procession route with the support of local policemen. People were allowed to take their seat only after a through check at the access gates. Hand-held metal detectors and door frame metal detectors were used to screen people at the entrance to the palace.

Despite the warning, many people brought handbags, thereby causing difficulty for policemen to conduct checks. Compared to previous years, the police, who had a major challenge of ensuring a trouble-free event on Thursday, did the right job by deploying more uniformed men.

Senior police officers, including Police Commissioner S. Parashivamurthy and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) V.S. D’Souza, supervised security arrangements.

The personnel of bomb detection squads were seen checking the belongings of the people seated along the procession route. A dog squad was also pressed into service.

A cellphone signal jammer vehicle was moving in the front of the golden howdah-carrying elephant from the palace. Such jammers were installed at multiple points as part of the enhanced security cover.

“The jammers can increase the range of jamming depending on the situation. It can cover up to 500 metres,” a police officer said.