Bengaluru: Pro-DKS protest rally throws traffic out of gear

Bengaluru: Traffic was thrown out of gear in the city as over 30,000 protesters took out a rally against the arrest of Congress leader D.K. Shivakumar by Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday.

Traffic was moving sluggishly for hours at Basavangudi, Mysuru Road, J.C. Road and roads around National College as there was a surge of protesters.

The city traffic police had put up barricades from National College Grounds to Freedom Park, to enable smooth movement of traffic.

Protest was peaceful: Police
Barring an incident of throwing stones at a BMTC bus near Ashoka Pillar Circle, the protest was largely peaceful and no untoward incidents were reported.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the protest was peaceful and lauded the efforts of security forces in maintaining peace in the city.

The city police had deployed around 5,000 police personnel.

In addition, 50 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police, 40 platoons of City Armed Reserve and 550 home guards were also present.

The bandobast was monitored by 11 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 42 Assistant Commissioners of Police, 106 police inspectors, 373 sub-inspectors and 2,280 police constables.

Over 500 temporary CCTV cameras were fixed across the stretch and police in plainclothes shot the entire episode in hand-held cameras.