Police mock drill creates panic among people

Karwar, January 5: The mock drill 'Sagar Kavach', an exercise launched to check the preparedness of the security agencies, created panic across Uttara Kannada district, as the a few people spread the rumours that the terrorists had planted bombs near Kali bridge and other strategic places in Karwar.

The unusual tight security arrangements in some important places of the city including the office of Deputy Commissioner in Karwar, Bus Stand, beaches and Kali Bridge raised eyebrows of many people, who contributed to the rumours.

Coincidentally a person had died of heart attack in a public toilet near old fish market in the city in the previous night. When the heavy police force was deployed in the area, locals began to think that it might be a murder by anti-social elements.

Heavily armed policemen also kept an eye on beaches and islands across the coastal district of Uttara Kannada.

The traffic moved at a snail's pace as the police personnel were checking the vehicles and this further added the tension and inconvenience of the people and school going children. The queues of vehicles were seen in many places of the city.

Most of the people did not know what was happening with gun-totting policemen inspecting the vehicles passing through naka bandi circuit.