Chikmagalur: A 27-member women’s strike force has been formed by Chikkamagaluru police for deployment for the first time during this year's Datta Jayanthi celebrations at Bababudangiri Hills to deal with crowd control management of female devotees especially on Anasuya Jayanthi which will attended by female devotees.
The Datta Jayanthi has been jointly organized by members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and others pro-Hindu outfits. Though, the jayanthi goes on for 10-days, the last three days, December 10-12 assume significance when devotees throng Datta Peeta atop the Bababudangiri Hills in large numbers.
All these years, crowd control during Datta Jayanthi was conducted by regular staff.
Chikkamagaluru Superintendent of Police Harish Pandey told Deccan Chronicle on Sunday that the 27-member strike force was formed since women were taking a lead role in crowd control. Anasuya Jayanthi, part of Datta Jayanthi, will also be a female gathering and an exclusive strike force of women will deal with the situation better, guiding them and checking any disturbance with minimal use of force, he said.
“We have been training the women police for the last three months in Chikkmagaluru imparting training in unarmed combat skills such as taekwondo as well as in basic techniques of crowd control,” added the SP. The strike force will be headed by Additional SP Shruthi.
On December 11, a massive Shobha Yatra has been organized at 3 pm wherein a procession will be taken out by pro-Hindu outfits through KEB Circle, Basavanahalli Main road, Hanumanthappa Circle and culminate at Azad Park in the town. Police said that about 10,000 devotees are expected to gather for the procession.
Around 5,000 policemen will maintain a vigil in the town on the last three days. Besides, surveillance cameras including 360 degree cameras have been installed to monitor the activities over the town.
