‘No’ to plea for more idols at public places

Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav speaking at a meeting held with members of Hindu front organisations in Tiruchi on Tuesday. Photo: B.Velankanni Raj

The city police have come out with a set of conditions for installing Vinayaka idols in public places in connection with the Vinayakar Chathurthi festival, and procedures to be followed while taking the idols in procession for immersion.

The conditions were conveyed to the members of Hindu organisations and idol installation organising committees at a meeting held here on Tuesday.

The festival falls on August 29 and idol procession would be held on August 31.

Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav, who presided over the meeting, said that no idol should be installed without police permission and those found installed without permission would be removed.

Idols would be installed only in places permitted last year, and two police constables would be posted in shifts at each of these spots.

Replying to the demand for permission to install idols at more places, Mr. Yadav said that permission would be given to install idols at 176 places within city limits as was the case last year.

Installation of additional idols would necessitate deployment of more men for security, he said.

While assuring their cooperation for the smooth conduct of procession, the participating members appealed the police to close down TASMAC outlets on the day of procession from various places in the city for immersion in the Cauvery.

Deputy Commissioners of Police, Assistant Commissioners of Police of various ranges, and Inspectors took part .

Later, a separate meeting was organised with members of the Muslim community.

Pudukottai

In Pudukottai, District Collector C.Manoharan chaired a consultative meeting with police and officials of other departments to discuss arrangements being made for idol procession in the district.

Mr.Manoharan said that idols installed at public places should not be more than five feet in height.

Only idols made of clay should be used and chemical paint should not be used. Organisers should post a responsible person to guard the idols until they are immersed.

Proper permission should be obtained for installing the idols and they should be kept only at specified places.

The organisers should immerse the idols only at the designated water bodies, he said and appealed to the organisers and people of the district to extend their full cooperation for the smooth conduct of festival.