Fifteen special squads spread out all over Mumbai on Wednesday, combing important areas to ensure safe Ganpati processions. The government created no-parking zones on the basis of intelligence inputs in view of the Commonwealth Games, Chandra Iyengar, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Government of Maharashtra, told a press conference here on Wednesday evening.
“The special squads search the areas before a procession passes. The squads are also moving with the immersion processions. They are looking for stationary vehicles and anything that is likely to delay movement. The traffic police, whose role had been limited till now, are also taking special measures. We have told them to be alert. On the basis of intelligence inputs in view of the CWG we have taken separate measures. No-parking zones have been created along visarjan routes. Ninety per cent of the traffic is moving. Taxis have been told not to halt at one place for too long,” she said.
Seven major roads demarcated for parades were shut for traffic. CCTV cameras were installed in 31 places to survey parades and special passes were given for procession vehicles.
On the Jama Masjid firing case, Ms. Iyengar said the police had not detained anyone. An email sent in the aftermath of the firing was traced to the suburb of Borivili in Mumbai. “The threat-mail is being verified. The investigation is on. I would not comment beyond that,” she said.
4 drown in Gujarat
PTI reports from Bharuch:
In this town in Gujarat, four persons drowned during immersion of Ganpati idols in two incidents on Wednesday, police said.
Two youths drowned near Nareshwar in the Narmada and two others drowned in the same river near Bharuch town.
