No sleep, no breaks, no rest for 50 hrs

City cops deputed since Saturday afternoon by police commissioner continued to be on duty without break till 10 pm yesterday

City cops deputed since Saturday afternoon by police commissioner continued to be on duty without break till 10 pm yesterday

Fifty hours and counting thanks to the state government's massive programme at Palace Government's attended by over three lakh people on Sunday and the Bharat bandh call yesterday, city policemen have ended up working for almost three days without any rest.

On Saturday afternoon, Shankar Bidari, the police commissioner, deputed over 1,000 men to secure the palace ground, where the state BJP government conducted a Swabhimani Samavesha on Sunday (self respect conference) in order to woo the backward classes. The policemen continued on Monday to secure the city during the 12-hour bandh.

Thousands of police personnel were deployed across the city to maintain law and order during the bandh.

The policemen could not leave for home since Saturday morning, and the department supplied them food while they put in the long hours. Most of the policemen remained on duty till 10 pm yesterday.

With their seniors and political bigwigs constantly visiting to check arrangements continuously, the policemen could not catch a wink on Saturday and Sunday nights. While the on Sunday morning, they struggled with the massive crowds the rally attracted, on Monday they were on tenterhooks to ensure no untoward incident occurred during the bandh.

Lokeshwara, a police inspector, deputed on bandh duty, said, "We have to face such problems sometimes. We have been working without sleep since Saturday morning. Nobody knows when it will end. If a untoward incident occurs, we would be expected to continue on duty for yet another night. Sometimes, we
feel tired."

Hanumatappa, an assistant sub inspector, said, "Nobody asks us of our problems. I couldn't meet my family for the last three days."

3,000
Number of vehicles that visited the rally on Sunday

3 lakh
Number of people the Swabhimani Samavesha rally is said to have attracted