Mysore, Mar. 19 (KK&KMC) - In a bid to instill confidence among the citizens and to ensure safety, law and order, the City Police personnel numbering more than 1,500, took out a Flag March in communally sensitive areas here this morning.

The exercise, a 'show of strength,' had platoons of City Armed Reserve (CAR), Traffic Police, City Police, Mounted Police, RAF Commandos, Women Police and Police band, dressed in their full uniform and bearing arms. Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIV) carrying shell-launchers, were part of the parade, apart from the vehicles of Police officers. The Mounted Police platoon was led by their Commandant Mariba Shetty.

At the vanguard of the march were City Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal, DCPs B.R. Ravikanthegowda and P. Rajendra Prasad on horseback, supervising the platoons by trotting from the front to the rear frequently, all along the 4-km-long march from Town Hall to Udayagiri extension.

The Police personnel started assembling at the Town Hall since 6 am and the Flag March began at 7 am, passing through Ashoka Road, Lashkar Police Station (Subhash Chandra Bose Circle), St. Philomena's Church, Sawday road, Pulikeshi Road and Five Lights Circle on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, culminating at RK Palace Function Hall in Udayagiri at 9 am, where the marchers had a sumptuous breakfast.

The Police personnel then enjoyed an hour-long entertainment programme presented by Humorist Prof. Krishnegowda, who gave tips to the cops on Police-public relationship.

Police Commissioner Sunil Agarwal told Star of Mysore that the Flag March with the message 'Do not fear; we are with you' aimed at instilling a sense of confidence among the citizens on the Police and also flexing its muscles to convey a warning message to the miscreants who on the slightest pre-text, disturbed peace through creating communal tension.

"In the wake of terror threats, we (Mysore Police) are prepared to tackle any law and order problem that may arise in future," Agarwal said and added that the Police Ceremonial Parade, held every Friday at the Police Parade Ground in Nazarbad, had been converted into a Flag March this Friday, to break the monotony.

"Henceforth, such Flag Marches will be conducted once every three months in other areas of the city too," said Agarwal and added that on occasions such as communal tension, Flag March will be conducted through the entire city.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore