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Security
for Mumbai Ganeshotsav sought
by Siddhi
Mumbai:
Sunday might be the last day of the terror threat warning
for the Mumbai Police, but the Ganeshotsav committees in the
city are in no mood to take any chance with the 11-day festival
approaching. The by-lanes of Lalbaug and Girgaum here are
quietly getting ready behind the curtains of pandals (tents)
for Ganesha Chaturthi, which is falling on August 27. But
in the wake of recent serial blasts and intelligence reports
of possible terror attacks, majority of the Ganeshostav committees
today held meetings on security measures for the festival.
Commenting on the additional security measures taken by the
Mandal, Ashok Pawar, Committee member of the Lalbaug Sarvajanik
Ganeshotsav Mandal, said, "The police have already provided
security for the preparation of the idol. Visitors will be
physically frisked twice. First by the police and then by
our volunteers".
At
Lalbaug, the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal is using
CCTVs to monitor devotees. ''Though it costs a lot, we are
installing eight CCTVs as a precautionary measure. We will
set up metal detectors too,'' said Ashok Pawar, a Committee
member. ''I believe no untoward incident will occur in Mumbai
during Ganeshotsav, but we have to take the necessary steps,''
said Hemant dikshit, Kherwadi Ganeshostav Mandal president.
Ganeshostav is the most popular festival in Maharashtra. It
is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada
(August/September) and continues for 10 days from Ganesha
Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturdashi, the tenth day when the idols
are immersed in ponds, rivers or the sea. High alert has been
sounded here following intelligence inputs that terrorists
may strike in the city. Considering this, security has been
beefed up at important public places like railway stations,
bus terminuses, vital installations, religious places and
communally sensitive areas. Mumbai Police Commissioner AN
Roy had said yesterday that police was directed to be on guard
from August 15 to 20 and Sunday being the last day of the
warning, the police were extra cautious.
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