Heavy police 'bandobast' ahead of 'Ganapati Visarjan'

Pune, Sep 5 (UNI) More than ten thousand police personnel have been deployed as part of the heavy bandobast for the 'Ganapati Visarjan' beginning here tomorrow from 1030 hrs.

DCP (Crime), Raghunath Khaire told mediapersons that the police has appealed to all the Ganesh Mandals to follow directives of the Supreme Court and refrain from using loudspeakers from midnight onwards.

''We will take suitable action if any mandal is found violating the court orders'', he said. It may be recalled that last year a riot broke out on this issue when some mandals refused to take their idols for immersion without the accompanying music.

Five companies of the CRPF, three companies of the SRPF and three companies of the RAF apart from the city police have been deployed for the smooth flow of the procession. Besides, the police have set up 100 CCTV's at strategic locations to monitor the procession, he informed.

As is the practice and norm in the city, the procession begins with the five ''manache Ganapati'' leading the procession in the order of Kasba Ganpati, being followed by Tamdi Jogeshwari Ganapati, Guruji Talim Ganapati, Tushibagh Ganapati and Kesariwada Ganapati. Nearly 3000 Mandals have registered and the municipal corporation has made special arrangements for immersion at make shift wells and canals for the immersion of idols. Talking about the Ganesh festival, the DCP said that so far it has been peaceful and we hope it will end peacefully.

A case of rioting has been registered at Hadapsar when one person protested for not being taken on the post of a mandal. He apparently waved swords along with his supporters threatened the mandal office bearers. He along with few others have been taken into custody, police said.

UNI SP/DWN WD SBA HT2155