Ganeshotsav and Eid-ul-Zuha will be celebrated under tight security cover this year. The Mumbai Police is supplementing its manpower with paramilitary forces to ensure peaceful and safe celebrations.
Police officials said that security for the Ganeshotsav and Eid festivals is enforced with maintaining communal harmony in mind, as both the festivals coincide every year. The Ganeshotsav begins on August 25 and ends on September 5, while Eid-ul-Zuha falls on September 2.
Additional personnel
Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Rashmi Karandikar said, “The State Reserve Police Force, Quick Response Teams, Home Guards and Riot Control Police will be deployed along with our personnel. Combing operations and checks at hotels and lodges have already begun. Anti Terror Cells at police stations are also at work.”
Ms. Karandikar said 5,000 Closed Circuit Television Cameras will monitor festivities in the city. Ganeshotsav mandals have been instructed to install cameras at pandals. The police have set up a special command centre near the Lalbaughcha Raja pandal, which attracts lakhs of people every year.
“There are 7,610 mandals this year and around 1.25 lakh households are hosting Ganesh idols this year. All arrangements for the immersion have also been made,” said Ms Karandikar.
Senior police officials said in view of the Supreme Court’s verdict that declared Triple Talaq as unconstitutional, the police will be on the lookout for people making provocative speeches or statements that may lead to law and order problems.
Taking precautions
A senior officer with Mumbai Police said, “We have convened meetings with local religious leaders of all communities. We have advised them against making comments that might lead to communal violence.
“Senior Police Inspectors have also held meetings with youths in their jurisdictions. They have been advised not to fall prey to attempts at fanning violence through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.”
The Traffic Police will be deploying 3,000 personnel and they will be assisted by traffic wardens on the day of the immersion. Drone cameras will also be deployed at sea faces. There are 119 immersion points in the city, said officers.
