1,000 police deployed for Devaragattu banni festival in Kurnool district

All arrangements have been made for the annual ‘banni’ festival, popularly known as ‘karrala samaram, at Devaragattu in Holagunda mandal of the district on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) night. People from three villages vie with each other to snatch the idol of the presiding deity, Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy, resulting in injuries, sometimes even fatal ones.

Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil asked the villagers not to resort to violence in the name of following tradition and said strict measures were taken to curb the sale of illicit liquor and country-made liquor. Bind-over proceedings were initiated against more than 190 individuals, he said.

To prevent villagers from clashing, the police seize sticks from neighbouring villages, and this time too more than 300 sticks have been seized during 40 cordon and search operations.

Five check-posts and 10 police pickets have been set up and continuous surveillance has been put using 110 night-vision CCTV cameras, 700 LED lights, and 10 drone cameras.

“Tight security arrangements are in place and a total of 1,000 police personnel, including Additional SPs, DSPs, circle inspectors, and sub-inspectors were roped in for bandobust to ensure that no untoward incidents occur,” the SP said.

Mr. Patil said two district-level meetings, one at the Kurnool Collectorate and another at Devaragattu, were held in coordination with the district administration to review the arrangements and security measures for the festival.

Special awareness meetings were conducted in villages surrounding Devaragattu such as Neraniki, Neraniki Thanda, Kothapeta, Arikera and Ellarthi to sensitise the local population. Individuals with a history of involvement in conflicts, as well as those engaged in the sale of illicit liquor, have been identified and bound over, he said.