Tipu Jayanti celebration: All kinds of public procession banned in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Police Commissioner T. Sunil Kumar on Thursday ordered to restrict all kinds of public procession in Karnataka tomorrow to prevent any untoward incident on the occasion of Tipu Jayanti.

"No procession or anti-procession will be permitted in the city. If required, we will impose Section 144 and a strict action will be taken against anyone who breaks the rules," Kumar said.

The police official further added, "A circular has been issued restricting all kinds of public processions. All security arrangements will be made to maintain law and order in the city. As many as 13,000 policemen, along with the personnel of the Garud Commando Force, 30 platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and 20 platoons of the City Armed Reserve (CAR), will be deployed in the sensitive and the hypersensitive areas."

Earlier in the week, the Karnataka High Court refused to put a stay on Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations and finally slated it to be celebrated across the state on November 10.

The Karnataka Government, headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has planned to celebrate the erstwhile ruler's birth anniversary. However, opposition BJP and some outfits are opposed to Tipu Jayanti celebrations.

Tipu Jayanti is being observed since 2015 following a government decision, which had triggered a major row and caused violence in Kodagu district that year.