1,000 police personnel 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 Kurnool district on Wednesday (October 21, 2026) night. People from three villages vie with one another to snatch the idol of the presiding deity, Sri Mala Malleswara Swamy, resulting in injuries, sometimes even fatal ones.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikrant Patil urged the villagers not to resort to violence in the name of tradition and warned them that strict measures have been taken to curb the sale of illicit and country-made liquor. Bind-over proceedings have also been initiated against more than 190 individuals, he said.

To prevent villagers from clashing, the police seized sticks from neighbouring villages. This time, over 300 sticks were seized during 40 cordon and search operations.

Five check-posts and 10 police pickets have been set up and continuous surveillance has been maintained 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 have been roped in for bandobust to ensure that no untoward incidents occur,” the SP said.

దేవరగట్టు బన్ని ఉత్సవానికి 1,000 మంది పోలీసులతో పటిష్ట భద్రతా ఏర్పాట్లు చేపట్టినట్లు కర్నూలు ఎస్పీ శ్రీ విక్రాంత్ పాటిల్ తెలిపారు. సీసీటీవీ నిఘా ఏర్పాటు చేశాం. భక్తులు ప్రశాంతంగా సంప్రదాయబద్ధంగా ఉత్సవంలో పాల్గొనాలి. #APPOLICE100 #AndhraPradeshPolice #PoliceKurnool #APPolice https://t.co/gdTmYojLt8

— Kurnool Police (@PoliceKurnool) October 21, 2026

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 also held in the 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.

Published - October 21, 2026 01:24 pm IST