With an unprecedented number of policemen —15,000 — on security duty, the immersion of Vinayaka idols passed off peacefully in the city on Sunday.
More than 2,000 idols of various sizes and hues were immersed in the Bay of Bengal in different locations. Young men and children danced to the loud, fast-paced beat of drums ahead of the slow moving vehicles that carried idols.
A large number of policemen, including senior officers were present at Srinivasapuram in Pattinapakkam (Foreshore Estate) as part of the security arrangements and to prevent any untoward incident at the five usual designated immersion spots at Neelankarai, Pattinapakkam, Tiruvottiyur, Royapuram Fishing Harbour, and Ramakrishna Nagar, Ennore.
Policemen also accompanied the vehicles carrying the idols from sensitive areas to keep mischief-makers at bay, the sources said. Temporary barricades were placed on Santhome High Road, Kamarajar Salai, Pycrofts Road, Triplicane High Road and Wallajah Road to regulate the movement of vehicles. Motorists proceeding on Santhome High Road and Kamarajar Salai were put to hardship because of vehicles carrying the idols clogging these two roads.
Late in the evening, members of Hindu Munnani, led by G. Bakthavatsalam, State organiser, were taken into preventive custody by the police near Triplicane High Road when they insisted on taking a vehicle with a Vinayaka idol through a prohibited route.
Most vehicles from the city’s southern suburbs passed through Velachery Main Road to their designated immersion spot at Palkalai Nagar, Palavakkam beach from noon. The vehicles had to wait for more than an hour before immersion because of the large numbers of idols this time, according to a Palavakkam resident.
(Additional reporting by T. Madhavan)
