Journalists staged a protest inside the Mysuru palace ahead of the Jamboo Savari on Vijayadashami, alleging that police restrictions prevented them from reaching their designated locations in time to cover the event.
The journalists, who arrived in a vehicle belonging to the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), were initially stopped near the Brahmapuri entrance to the palace.
After an altercation, they managed to enter the palace premises but were stopped again before they could reach the North Gate.
As the journalists protested against the restrictions, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harsha Priyamvad rushed to the spot and facilitated their passage. T.S. Srivatsa, Krishnaraja MLA, was also present, and criticised the hurdles placed in the way of journalists covering the event.
Agitated over the conduct of the police personnel, the journalists staged a sit-in on the path leading to the North Gate, prompting Director General of Police M.A. Saleem to intervene.
Senior police officials said the confusion over the entry of journalists had arisen because police personnel from outside Mysuru had been deployed for duty at the palace.
Meanwhile, K. Shivakumar, MLC, condemned the alleged misbehaviour of police personnel towards journalists covering the Jamboo Savari and demanded disciplinary action against officials who had allegedly obstructed them from discharging their duties.
He questioned the need for the police to stop the vehicle, which carried an official vehicle pass and the journalists, who possessed valid duty passes issued by the Mysuru City Police Commissioner’s office.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police, Mr. Shivakumar, who had also worked as a journalist, said media personnel had faced considerable difficulties owing to inadequate arrangements for covering this year’s Mysuru Dasara celebrations.
Traditionally, journalists were allowed to enter the palace premises through the Karikallu Thotti gate to cover the Jamboo Savari. This year, however, the Police Department designated the Brahmapuri gate as the entry point. Police personnel deployed there allegedly denied entry to journalists despite possessing official duty passes issued by the Mysuru City Police Commissioner’s office, he said.
Meanwhile, the Mysuru District Journalists’ Association (MDJA) too has condemned the alleged arrogance of the police personnel, who prevented the journalists from discharging their duties. MDJA president K. Deepak and General Secretary Dharmapura Narayan, in a statement here, have sought police action and has sought disciplinary action against the police personnel involved.
Published – October 21, 2026 10:54 pm IST
