Alert sounded in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Hubballi ahead of India-Pakistan T20 match

Traditional rivals of the battlefield as well as cricket ground, India-Pakistan T20 world cup match will be intense as the entire nation will be glued to TV sets for updates. Anticipating miscreants taking advantage of the situation during celebrations, sensitive areas will have extra police cover.

Talking to Asianet Newsable, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Kamal Pant said that disturbance or fights following the outcome of the match results cannot be ruled out as miscreants may take advantage, hence the police will be on high alert and will deploy additional forces.

Bengaluru in the past has witnessed riots in places like DJ Halli, KJ Halli, Padarayanpura of communally sensitive areas for trivial matters. The Minority dominated places traditionally get police deployment.

In August 2020, two police stations were burnt and the house on BJP MLA was attacked following a derogatory comment against Prophet by Congress MLA's nephew.

To contain the arson, police opened fire. Four deaths were reported. Similarly, health warriors were attacked at Padarayanpura for no reason in 2020 April and many were detained.

Karnataka's most sensitive area is its coastal belt Mangaluru and its surroundings as riots in the past have been reported. As far as fights due to match is concerned, no such cases have been registered in the past, however, the Commissioner of Police N Sashikumar said he does not want to take any chance. He added Mangaluru has traditionally marked areas that are sensitive and these areas will be under police vigil.

Labhu Ram, Hubballi-Dharwad police commissioner says the police here is always on alert, and depending on the situation on that day extra forces will be deployed.

During the 1992-1993 Babri Masjid demolition, Hubballi-Dharwad was burning and many were injured due to clashes.

Since then, any festival or occasion like a cricket match between India Pakistan, police platoon is deployed to prevent volatile situations.