A 1.4 lakh-strong police force, including paramilitary forces, has been deployed across Karnataka to ensure peaceful elections. “Law and order in the State is under control. Not a single incident of communal violence related to elections has been reported so far,” said Neelmani N. Raju, Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, at a press conference here on Friday.
Except for four minor incidents reported in Mysuru, Hassan, Kodagu, and Bengaluru, the election campaign completed peacefully, she said.
For the first time, the State Home Department has also roped in personnel from the Lokayukta, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Criminal Investigation Department, the Fire Services, the Forest Department and even prison wardens for security duties, said Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant, who is the State nodal officer.
Apart from the 82,157 policemen and policewomen, another 7,500 security officials from the neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Goa have been deployed along with 585 companies of paramilitary forces.