Mysuru: In response to the recent incident where a man climbed and defiled the statue of Rajarshi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar at K.R. Circle, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is preparing to install high-resolution 360-degree Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras at all 3 major statue circles in city, each dedicated to Mysuru’s royal heritage.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, MCC Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif confirmed that CCTV surveillance will soon be introduced at Krishna Raja Wadiyar Circle, Chamaraja Wadiyar Circle and Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Circle (Hardinge Circle). “The cameras will be high-resolution and will cover the statue and its entire surroundings,” he said.

The move follows the disturbing events of May 30, when a man identified as Shivamurthy from Doora village scaled the Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar statue in a bizarre and disrespectful manner.

Witnesses reported that Shivamurthy shook the statue, hugged it tightly, scraped a lit matchstick across its face and even attempted to press a burning beedi against the marble figure — acts that drew sharp condemnation from the public. Upon arrest, Shivamurthy appeared to be mentally disturbed and told police that he saw his grandfather in the statue’s likeness.

“We want to avoid such incidents in the future. In the past too, the statue has faced damage — once, the sword was broken,” said Commissioner Asif. “We are planning to strengthen security around these heritage structures.”

As part of the initiative, the MCC plans to link the live CCTV feed to both the Police Control Room and the MCC’s own monitoring centre. This integration is expected to enable swift police response in case of vandalism or any suspicious activity.

“We are currently in the planning stage and will soon hold discussions with the Police Department to finalise the project,” Asif added.

According to the Commissioner, the surveillance plan serves a dual purpose: Ensuring security and acting as a deterrent. “The public must know that any mischief will be recorded and offenders will be penalised,” he stated.

The three circles are not only important traffic junctions but also symbolic of Mysuru’s royal legacy. With enhanced security, the MCC hopes to protect these revered landmarks from further defacement or disrespect.