The police are gearing up for the peaceful conduct of Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations on Friday and the completion of immersion of idols. The police said that a total of 1,823 idols were installed in the city and the district. This includes 1,483 idols in rural Coimbatore.
“About 1,300 idols were installed in the district for the celebrations last year. There is a marginal increase in the number of idols this year. These idols will be taken in a procession and immersed in select water bodies identified by the district administration,” Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Sudhakar said.
In addition to the peace meetings organised for the heads of religious organisations, the police have also asked leaders of Hindu outfits to abide by the following regulations for the peaceful conduct of the celebrations: to have a guard for every idol till immersion, immerse the idols before 6 p.m. and not to raise slogans that will disturb peace and communal harmony.
The idols will be taken in a procession from Friday to Sunday for immersion. Three processions will be organised on Friday and an equal number on Saturday. The highest number of 12 processions will be taken out on Sunday.
Around 1,000 policemen and 290 Home Guards here will be deployed for security. This is in addition to the more than 300 Tamil Nadu Special Police personnel who are expected to arrive soon.
“Five pockets – Mettupalayam, Karamadai, Alandurai, Pollachi and Anamalai – have been identified as sensitive where more police personnel will be deputed,” Mr. Sudhakar said.
The Coimbatore City Police said that permission had been given for installation of 340 idols in the city. They would be immersed in a phased manner from August 29 to September 2. Police sources said that a majority of the idols would be immersed on Sunday and Tuesday.
