Nagpur: With the 10-day Ganeshotsav set to commence from Thursday, September 13, the city police force has put itself top gear to ensure peaceful celebration of the festival.
Talking to Nagpur Today, the Commissioner of Police Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay said that the city police have drawn 5-pronged strategy to ensure peaceful, incident-free Ganeshotsav in the historic and important city of Nagpur. “We have made all Bandobast for the festival. Teams of policemen would be deployed at Sarvajanik Mandal pandals to keep watch on movement of devotees. Then there will be patrolling by police squads on four-wheelers across city. Plain-clothes personnel drawn from Crime Branch as well as police stations would be keeping hawk eye on the trouble-makers. Preventive detention and action has been initiated against the anti-social elements. Help of peace committees have been solicited on a number of measures for peaceful and cheerful celebration of the 10-day festival,” he said.
“Law and order would be maintained at all cost. City police have help of various NGOs on different aspects including crowd control. We have Ganeshotsav plan in place. Security has been beefed up with various measures in place. Nagpur city has history of peaceful and harmonious celebration of Ganesh festival. This year too, the citizens of this great city will celebrate the festival in a befitting manner,” the top cop asserted.
Asked about the number of Sarvajanik Mandals installing Ganesh idols in pandals, the Commissioner said, “He has no exact number but last year around 1700 Mandals celebrated the festival. This year, the figure could reach more or less 1800. The mandals have been asked to ensure that no trouble is ensued during the 10-day festivity,” he said.
Similarly, traffic cops would be deployed in adequate numbers at vantage and busy thoroughfares for smooth vehicular movement during the festival. At many places, traffic will be regulated or diverted so that no hurdles are created. Patrolling by squads of traffic cops on four-wheelers will be done non-stop and problems will be dealt with accordingly,” the Police Commissioner said.
During immersion of idols, proper security measures will be in place to prevent untoward incidents. Cops would keep hawk eye in view of past incidents in which some enthusiastic youths had drowned at immersion places.
The top cop appealed the people to alert the control room if they spot any suspicious things lying unattended at crowded places near pandals or at any other place.
Citizens can contact Police Whatsapp Number: 08055472422, 08055876773 or Emergency Numbers: 100, 07122561222, 07122565316.
In his message to citizens, the Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay said, “I am Commissioner of Police of this historic and important city of Nagpur. Ganeshotsav in Nagpur city is always celebrated peacefully and harmoniously by different communities since past many years. This year too, I appeal to the citizens to celebrate the festival with grandest manner. Police are with you to ensure peaceful conduct of the festival. I extend my greetings to peace-loving citizens on the occasion of Ganeshotsav.”
– Ravikant Kamble
– Abhishek Tiwari
