City turned into a fortress ahead of BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally

With the 'Mangaluru Chalo' rally, the BJP hoped to polarise in the communally sensitive coastal Karnataka districts.

In an effort to stop the BJP from going ahead with its 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally, the city police have clamped down restrictions prohibiting any protests or rallies. Mangaluru city has been turned into a fortress with all entry points secured and prohibitory orders clamped down. The BJP, however, has decided to defy the order and go ahead with the bike rally as decided.

Signed by T R Suresh, the Commissioner of Police, Mangaluru, the prohibitory orders will remain effective from 6 PM on Wednesday to Thursday midnight. "We have also prohibited excise. All liquor shops will be shut down from 6 PM Wednesday till Friday morning. We will not allow any rallies or protests but they are free to hold a public address," said Hanumantharaya, DCP, Law and Order, Mangaluru.

Elaborate security measures in Mangaluru

The bike rally has become a matter of prestige to the BJP after its flag off from various districts including Bengaluru and Hubballi was thwarted by the police. BJP is bent upon making Thursday's event in Mangaluru a success but the police equally prepared to stop any rallies in the city.

• No permission for any bike rally or procession within the city
• No restriction on public gathering
• 1 company of Rapid Action Force (RAF)
• 15 platoons of Karnataka State Reserve Police
• 15 City Armed Reserve police
• 500 policemen

BJP's attempts will be countered

The BJP has organized bikes rallies from 27 locations within the city but the police are expected to crackdown at the venues. Inspections are being conducted at 16 places within the city to stop BJP workers from going ahead with the bike rally. There are 11 entry points to Mangaluru city and checkposts have been set up at all points. No worker of a political party will be allowed entry into the city to take part in rallies.

The BJP however, is convinced that it will be able to gather at least 15,000 supporters for the rally as well as the public address.

OneIndia News