As the government mellowed its stand on the deployment of the central paramilitary forces, the state police took control of the capital on Sunday evening, hours ahead of Monday’s indefinite siege announced by the LDF.
A heavy police posse is camping in and around the Secretariat premises and paramilitary forces are camping at strategic points which have easy access to the building.
At 8 a.m., the Opposition stir will be inaugurated at a function which will be attended by former Prime Minster and JD(S) leader H D Deve Gowda,CPM general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan, among others.
The central forces will be on a watch and wait mode, ready to take orders if the situation goes out of control.
“The state police itself will be in charge of the security measures,” said South Zone ADGP A Hemachandran. “The central forces will remain in their vehicles. Their role is to assist the state police.”
Of the twenty companies of paramilitary forces called into the state, 10 have been deployed in the capital. They are stationed on various school and college campuses in the city. The rest of the forces will help the local police maintain law and order in Kannur, Ernakulam and Kollam.
The police have made elaborate arrangements with control rooms at various points. DGP K S Balasubramanian, ADGP Hemachandran and Commissioner P Vijayan are monitoring the arrangements.
Nine superintendents of police will be on the field leading a team of 40 DySPs, 70 circle inspectors, 200 sub-inspectors, and around 3,000 constables, including 100 women cops. The capital has been divided into five zones under each SP. The security of the Chief Minister and others will be entrusted with an SP.