From The Hindu · The Hindu Bureau · · 1m 40s
1,000 police deployed for Devaragattu Banni festival
Kurnool police prepare for annual tradition where villagers clash over a deity idol, with seizures, surveillance and warnings against violence.
In brief
Kurnool police prepare for annual tradition where villagers clash over a deity idol, with seizures, surveillance and warnings against violence. Police deployed one thousand personnel for Devaragattu's Banni festival on October twenty-first, twenty twenty-six, after seizing over three hundred sticks and binding over…
Annual clash over deity idol
The Banni festival at Devaragattu in Holagunda mandal sees people from three villages compete to snatch the idol of Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy, causing injuries and sometimes deaths.
Police chief warns against violence
Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil urged villagers not to resort to violence in the name of tradition and warned that strict measures have been taken to curb illicit liquor sales.
Over 300 sticks seized
Police conducted forty cordon and search operations in neighbouring villages, seizing over three hundred sticks to prevent villagers from clashing during the festival.
Bind-over proceedings against 190
Superintendent Patil said bind-over proceedings have been initiated against more than one hundred ninety individuals, including those with a history of conflict involvement and illicit liquor sellers.
Extensive surveillance deployed
Five check-posts and ten police pickets have been set up with continuous surveillance using one hundred ten night-vision CCTV cameras, seven hundred LED lights and ten drone cameras.
1,000 personnel for security
A total of one thousand police personnel, including Additional SPs, DSPs, circle inspectors and sub-inspectors have been deployed for bandobust to ensure no untoward incidents occur.
“Tight security arrangements are in place and a total of 1,000 police personnel, including Additional SPs, DSPs, circle inspectors, and sub-inspectors have been roped in for bandobust to ensure that no untoward incidents occur.”
Coordination with district administration
Two district-level meetings were held at the Kurnool Collectorate and Devaragattu to review arrangements. Special awareness meetings were also held in surrounding villages including Neraniki, Kothapeta, Arikera and Ellarthi.
In short
Police deployed one thousand personnel for Devaragattu's Banni festival on October twenty-first, twenty twenty-six, after seizing over three hundred sticks and binding over one hundred ninety individuals to prevent violence.