Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bengaluru today; 13000-strong police force deployed to maintain law and order

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday for a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Bengaluru is expected to build saffron party's tempo for Assembly election campaign. The issue of 'political-killings' is being widely debated and the recent murder of Santosh, a BJP worker, has heightened the tension between the BJP and the ruling Congress in the state. BJP termed the murder 'a continuation of the series of murders of Hindu activists'. BJP has accused the ruling Congress of protecting those behind these killings. 

Earlier on Friday, after Karnataka High Court's order, Kannada outfits called off Bengaluru bandh they had planned for Sunday. The bandh was reportedly aimed at seeking the PM's intervention in the state's dispute with Goa over the river Mahadayi. The organisations would now observe a 'black day' on Sunday. The protest was timed to coincide with Modi's visit to the city to addressing a BJP rally. 

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the visit. According to reports, a 13,000-strong police force has been deployed to maintain law and order during the visit. CCTV cameras have been installed at the venue and police teams are conducting verification drills at hotels and lodges, and monitoring movements at the bus stands, airport, and railway stations. 

BJP state unit expects a large number of people to attend the even on a holiday. Earlier, this visit was scheduled on January 28 to mark the conclusion of the party's Parivarthana Yatra. But due to Modi's budget engagement, it was decided to hold the event on February 4.