Karnataka put on high alert over possible terror threat

PRAMESH S JAIN
High alert continues in Karnataka,security beefed up across Bengaluru important places where more the public footfall is high.
Bengaluru Policemen are on their toes after City Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao on Friday issued a high alert memo to all the senior officiers to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
The memo,however, does not specify any threat,including any possible terrorist attack or any major sabotage activity in the city.
Check posts at important places and take all precautionary measures at Vidhana Soudha,High Court,Airport,all Railway stations, Bengaluru Metro,BMTC,KSRTC Bus terminals,Malls,temples and other religious places and all five star hotels and busy markets and check lodges,PGs,Hostels and be alert round the clock.
Memo issued by Commissioner says all Officers should be available on rounds at important places in their areas,and officers deployed at night should check all vehicles at borders and detain suspicious vehicles, the Bengaluru police commissioner has ordered.
Major towns and cities in Karnataka have been beefed up after a high alert was sounded on Friday.Police said it was only an extension of the usual alert sounded for the Independence Day.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao, in a memo to all senior police officers directed all top ranking officers to remain on high alert.They should sensitise the public about the alert at all iconic installations like Vidhana Soudha,Vikas Soudha,Airport,High Court,Railway stations,Bus stands,Bengaluru Metro Rail,
High End schools,Malls,five star hotels,temples,Mosque, and markets with high footfall.Officials have also been asked to post pickets,ensure CCTVs were functional, high level of police presence and continuous visibility,verifying antecedents of suspects,seize unattended bags and vehicles and intensify night checking.Special attention should be paid to hostels,serviced apartments and accommodation near religious places,the memo said.Rao said reporters that,This has been issued just to keep my officers and force on high alert and see how they respond if any such high alert comes lastly he termed this as as a general alert and not a reaction to any specific threat he said.
Meanwhile 9 suspicious people hailing from Mangaluru,Madikeri Kerala have been arrested in Mangaluru by Kadri Police station from a lodge.The nine people were arrested from a lodge near pumpwell on late Friday night.Cops have also seized a vehicle carrying National Crime Investigation board from the suspects possession and are investigating them.
The high alert comes when Karnataka is facing natural Calamities as at least 65 human and 941 animals have so far lost their lives in the rains and floods that have lashed Karnataka in the last two weeks recording 279% more rain than normal from 3-10 August, which is the highest in the last 118 years.14 people are still missing.