The drill was organised by the Betul police administration amid concerns over maintaining law and order, particularly in view of sporadic communal tension reported in the district over the past few months. Senior police officials supervised the exercise, which involved personnel from multiple police stations.
During the mock drill, police personnel were divided into two groups. One group acted as the police force, while the other simulated a violent mob. The exercise began with officers playing the role of executive magistrates attempting to negotiate with the mob and address their demands, as mandated under standard operating procedures.
When the simulated mob refused to disperse and began stone-pelting, police teams followed the graded response protocol. Initial warnings were issued, after which water cannons were used to disperse the crowd. As the situation escalated, the drill progressed to a lathi charge, followed by the deployment of tear gas shells. In the final phase, police personnel rehearsed the procedure for controlled firing as a last resort.
To enhance realism, a scenario was created in which one rioter was shown to be injured during firing. Police teams practiced evacuation protocols, with an ambulance transporting the injured individual to a hospital as part of the exercise. Officials said this was aimed at ensuring coordination between police, medical teams and administrative authorities during emergencies.
Superintendent of Police Virendra Jain, Additional Superintendent of Police Kamla Joshi, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sunil Lata, Kotwali TI Devkaran Dahariya, Ganj TI Neeraj Pal and officers from various police stations were present during the drill. The role of the magistrate was played by DSP Marco, while the simulated mob was led by Traffic In-Charge Gajendra Ken.
Police personnel were equipped with body protection kits, helmets and shields during the exercise. Some officers were seen adjusting to the gear, which officials said highlighted the need for regular practice to ensure comfort and efficiency during real operations.
Senior officers stated that the mock drill was conducted to reinforce discipline, coordination and adherence to legal procedures while dealing with violent crowds. They added that such exercises help identify operational gaps and improve response time.
Authorities indicated that similar drills will be conducted periodically to keep the force prepared and to reassure the public that law enforcement agencies are equipped to respond effectively to any threat to public order.
