Police to track SMSes with objectionable messages

The city police have said that short messaging services (SMS) on mobile phones will continue to function normally during the three-hour period on September 24, when the verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi is delivered.

Instead, the department will seek the cooperation of mobile service providers to freeze ‘highly objectionable’ SMSes that may pose a threat to peace and tranquillity.

Police commissioner, Shankar M Bidari clarified that there will not be a complete cut-off of mobile phones after the verdict is announced by Allahabad high court.

“We are examining the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) guidelines to find out ways and means to approach the service providers. We want to freeze objectionable and highly alarming messages that may spread rumours, which will create trouble in the society. This is our only concern,” he said.

Bidari said service providers will be asked to provide names and addresses of those who send disturbing SMSes on that day and continue to do it for the next few days. “We will take action against those individuals as per law after examining the SMSes, whether they pose any danger to the society,” he added.

He also appealed to the citizens to desist from sending SMSes that spread rumours and create unnecessary tension, so that peace can prevail in the city.

All organisations, including the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, have been told to cancel public meetings. Processions taking out Ganesha idols for immersion and entertainment programmes in open public spaces were also banned for two days.

A decision on the ongoing Karnataka Premier League T20 cricket tournament, however, was yet to be taken.

Leaves granted to police personnel have been cancelled and they were asked report at their respective stations. However, those in personal emergency situations have been exempted from duty.
Bharathinagar, Shivajinagar, Pulikeshinagar, DJ Halli and KG Halli in the east police division have been considered hyper-sensitive. In the west division, Byatarayanapura, Chandra Layout and Jagajivanaramnagar were included in the hyper-sensitive bracket.

Besides these areas, more personnel would be deployed in RT Nagar (north), and Tilaknagar and BTM Layout (south).
All police stations in the city have been ordered to hold peace committee meetings with community leaders. The meetings would be appealing people against spreading rumours and also to identify mischief makers.

Meanwhile, several people have been taken into preventive custody. “We have made preventive arrests, but the exact numbers of the anti-social elements rounded up is yet to be ascertained. The arrests will continue,” said additional commissioner of police (law and order) Gopal B Hosur.