In the run up to the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival, city police authorities have embarked on preparatory measures to ensure order on the day of the celebration as well as on the day when the idols are taken out in processions for immersion.
Along with the preparation of security arrangements for idols processions, law enforcers have been instructed to hold meetings with the organisers of the processions for Vinayaka idols immersion, at the police station level and in every range – Cantonment, Fort, Srirangam and Golden Rock – falling within the city limit.
The festival falls on September 1 and the idols installed within the city limit would be taken out in processions from various places and immersed in the Cauvery River on September 3.
The meetings were being conducted on the instruction of the Commissioner of Police E.Ma.Masanamuthu to convey the precautionary measures that need to be adopted and guidelines to be followed by the organisers of Vinayaka idols committees with regard to installation of the idols at the designated places, and taking out the processions.
A set of instructions were put across to the organisers of the idols committees by the law enforcers of the Fort Range during a meeting held in the city a few days ago. The participants were clearly told that the idols should be installed only at the designated places after obtaining permission from the law enforcers.
The organisers have been asked to constitute committee to monitor every idol to be installed and depute their representatives to keep a watch on them along with police personnel. The height of the idols should not exceed those installed last year.
The processions would be allowed in the same specified routes taken out last year and no slogans should be raised during the processions that could incite communal tension. The processions should in no way hamper traffic movements along the route and the participants should desist from consuming alcohol.
The organisers have been asked to furnish names, addresses and telephone numbers of the members of the monitoring committees.
Commissioner of Police Masanamuthu said police protection would be provided to every idol installed at the designated places across the city. In addition to providing route bandobust, police personnel would be deployed at vantage points, he said adding that a separate security scheme would be in place on the day of the processions.
