Madikeri police will deploy 1,421 officers and staff, women’s safety teams, dog squads and anti-sabotage units during Dasara celebrations on October 21, as authorities prepare for large public gatherings in Madikeri and Gonikoppal in Kodagu district.
Kodagu superintendent of police Bindumani said additional forces would be deployed in both towns to ensure the peaceful conduct of Vijayadashami festivities. In Madikeri, the deployment will cover the tableau show organised by the 10-temple committee.
The arrangements include 25 women police sub-inspectors and personnel from the Women Pink Force. Eight police ‘Jumbo’ teams will also be deployed to prevent incidents targeting women spectators. The police said special attention would be given to preventing eve-teasing and other offences against women during the celebrations.
The department will deploy an anti-sabotage check team and a dog squad to prevent illegal activities and inspect areas associated with the festivities. Police patrols will cover secluded locations in the city, while 10 Cheetah bikes will be used for beat duty.
Authorities have also prohibited the sale of face masks and whistles during the event. The restrictions form part of the police’s broader security arrangements for the public celebrations, although the report did not specify the duration or enforcement mechanism for the ban.
The deployment reflects the operational demands of managing a major public festival across gathering points, routes and areas where spectators may require assistance. The inclusion of dedicated women personnel, mobile beat patrols and anti-sabotage teams indicates that the security plan covers crowd safety, surveillance and rapid response rather than only static protection at the main venue.
Madikeri’s Dasara celebrations include a tableau show involving 10 temple committees, making movement and crowd control important parts of the police operation. The report did not provide details of traffic diversions, road closures, public transport arrangements or the expected number of spectators.
Similar security arrangements will be made in Gonikoppal in South Kodagu, where Dasara festivities will also be held on Vijayadashami Day. The police said the measures in both towns were intended to ensure public safety during the celebrations.
The additional force will remain focused on the festivities scheduled for October 21, with police patrols, women’s safety teams, dog squads and anti-sabotage checks forming the main components of the announced security plan.
