Ganapati Mandals gear up for festival with own security arrangemen

Mumbai, Aug 24 (UNI) A majority of big mandals across the city celebrating the 10-day Ganeshotsav have made special security arrangements like CCTV, metal detector frames, handsets, walky-talky handsets and engaged private security guards in the wake of inputs of possible terror attacks in the metropoli.

The festival will begin on Sunday.

Speaking to UNI Mr Sunil Joshi, president of Lalbaug Market Ganesh Utsav Mandal said, ''First time in the history of 73 years of installation of the Ganapati idol, popularly known as 'Lalbaugcha Raja and Navsacha Ganapati', we have made this security arrangements.'' "We have also for the first time prepared a 'ramp' for the devotees, where they have to undergo security check-up. Over 1,000 volunteers of the mandal will look after the security arrangements of devotees" he said The mandal will install four CCTVs (Close Circuit Television) and a metal detector frame at the entrance. ''Four handsets of metal detectors and half-a-dozen walky-talky sets were purchased,'' Mr Joshi added.

Abhyudaya Nagar Sarvajanik Ganesh Utsav Mandal president Jaisingrao Bhosale said, ''We have bagged several awards during last couple of years. We are celebrating Golden Jubilee year of Ganapati idol installation this year. This time the theme is the temple at 'Ganapati Pule', a religious place.

Mr Bhosale said considering high alert sounded by the intelligence agencies, we have purchased four handsets of metal detectors and six private guards have been engaged. Apart from that, the mandal has made some groups of Volunteers who will perform overall monitoring of the security arrangements.

Similar arrangements would be made by Tilak Nagar Ganeshotsav Mandal, which is believed to be controlled by underworld don Chhota Rajan, an office bearer of the mandal said.

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