All fool-proof and tightest security arrangements are made for the Ganesh Immersion festival in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Ganesh festival has become one of the most important festivals of Hyderabad. The festival which commenced on September 15 will conclude with a mammoth final immersion procession on September 25 and 26, in which about eight lakh to 10 lakh lakh people are expected to participate.
In view of the recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad City and the prevailing situation, additional preventive and proactive measures have been taken to ensure that the festival is conducted peacefully and absolute communal harmony is maintained in the city.
IP surveillance cameras and video cameras: An unprecedented coverage of the route of the procession by IP-based cameras with live coverage for better control and response has been put in place for the first time. The IP cameras are installed at 10 important locations in the sensitive areas of the city and will be centrally monitored from the Police Commissioner's office, Basheerbagh.
About 1000 video cameras are being hired from the market for ensuring that mischievous elements are deterred. Police also sought the co-operation from general public and invited the concerned citizens who own video cameras to enroll themselves as volunteers for recording the events at various places and assist the police.
Anti sabotage and other security measures: Owing to changed security situation, measures have been taken in the run up to Ganesh immersion.
Ganeshas were checked at the point of sale while in stock by the Anti Sabotage Check Teams and local police.
Ganesh Mandaps were checked by Anti Sabotage Check Teams at the Mandaps before installation of podiums.
Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs) were installed at major pandals and people allowed in only after checking of pooja materials/baggage. Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMDs) were also used for frisking at the pandals. Same was done for major Mosques. Videography was organized at pandals to scan faces of all people visiting Major Ganeshas.
Volunteers were made to stay at the pandals round the clock and protect them from sabotage. CSW Inspectors were attached one per Zone to co-ordinate the Anti Sabotage work. One Bomb Detection & Disposal Team was attached to each Zone to check the pandals. 1000 Volunteers of Temples/Ganesh mandaps/Mosques were sensitised in frisking and checking.
Railway Porters and staff of Nampally, Kachiguda and Secunderabad stations were sensitized in security checking. Security Agencies deployed at Shopping Malls and Cinema Theatres were got sensitized in security checking. Security pamphlets and posters were distributed to Ganesh Pandals and Mosques. Force arriving from other Districts and Hyderabad City Police were sensitized in security measures.
From September 21 onwards additions were made with arrival of resources from other Units---mainly Anti Sabotage Check Teams and equipment: Pandals being covered by DFMDs and HHMDs were increased in number. The Main Procession Route has been segmented into small lengths of about 2-4 KMs and one Anti Sabotage Check Team allotted for each segment. Route checking for sabotage is being done on daily basis. Three Teams are allotted for anti sabotage for immersion Point at Tank Bund. Vehicle Inspection Mirrors for checking under carriage for vehicles are being used to prevent sabotage of lorries that carry Ganesh Idols. Frisking and checking of small Ganeshas as they are brought to main procession is being organized. GHMC was requested to remove all garbage bins along the procession routes, so that they could not be misused for concealing IEDs.
Bandobust at sensitive places enroute the procession: About 170 Mosques enroute the final immersion procession have been identified and bandobust made at an unprecedented scale keeping in mind the celebration of Ganesh and Ramzan festivals simultaneously in the city.
Computerised monitoring of Idols in the procession: For the first time, a computerized system was developed with the assistance of NIC for monitoring the location of Ganesh Idols in the procession. This helps to make the idols move faster and fill up the gaps in the procession where they exist. Police will know the correct number of idols that have already crossed a given important location at any time so that the subordinate officers can be guided to speed up procession wherever necessary.
Deployment of Forces: Special Mobile Parties: 100 Special Mobile Parties consisting of 10 members under the control of one sub-Inspector each were formed w.e.f. 28.8.2007 integrated with the Rakshak Mobiles to conduct the Vehicle Checking, Frisking, Checking of public places and Lodge Checking. This measure improved the basic policing in the city and create public confidence.
Foot patrolling teams: 285 Foot patrolling teams consisting of 4 persons each were formed for round the clock Foot Patrolling in earmarked stretches to conduct frisking, checking of public places and to look out for abandoned vehicles, unattended baggage etc., in places of public congregation.
Lodge checking: Checking of lodges was taken up on a massive scale everyday covering all the 454 lodges in the city. Additional licence conditions for lodges were imposed to ensure better security for the public visiting their premises.
Emergency response: In order to respond quickly in emergencies, barricading is got done all along the procession route giving clear passage to the police and medical teams. To improve response to calls for medical assistance, the services of EMRI are being taken full advantage of in addition to the normal Medical and Health services.
Drive Against illegal immigrants: A massive drive was launched to identify and take action against the illegal immigrants. The phone numbers from which regular calls are being made to Bangladesh etc., were identified and communicated to the subordinate officers to keep watch over the suspected persons in those localities.
Public Awareness Campaign: A massive public awareness campaign was taken up through the print and electronic media to sensitize the citizens regarding security precautions to be taken to prevent acts of sabotage. In addition posters and 60,000 pamphelts were got printed in both Telugu and Urdu and distributed among all the Ganesh Mandap organizers and devotees going to the mosques. A large scale publicity campaign was also taken up by display of hoardings appealing for communal harmony at prominent places in the city. Non-Government organizations like COVA, Mohalla Committees and Peace Committees were involved in educating the community in all localities by conducting meetings and peace rallies.
Coordination with other organizations: A series of meetings were conducted with sister agencies like CISF, RPF, GRP, APSRTC, (Vigillance and Security) etc., for better coordination and making them partners in the ongoing drive to improve public security in the city.
Contingency plan: A secret contingency plan for Ganesh Festival-2007 has been prepared to be put into operation quickly in case of any act of sabotage and quell the disturbances immediately. This plan envisages the sealing of trouble prone areas from the rest of the city and quickly bringing the situation under control.
