Nagpur: Around 15,000 personnel of Nagpur City Police, assisted by local volunteers and home guards, handled an unprecedented gathering of nearly 5 lakh pilgrims during the historic Shahi Sandal of Hazrat Baba Tajuddin in Tajbagh on Sunday.Police commissioner Vishwas Nangre Patil led from the front and undertook extensive foot patrolling, covering 4km through the dense crowds on Sunday and conducting on-foot reviews twice last week. With approximately 3 lakh pilgrims stationary at the venue and another 2 lakh proceeding through approach roads, police ensured seamless movement amid the massive turnout from across India.The elaborate bandobast, which began seven days in advance, was strategised by zonal DCP Rashmitha Rao along with police teams and the crime branch.Preparations were calibrated for an expected footfall of devotees, with the event continuing into Sunday — the shahi sandal procession. Police forces were extensively deployed alongside regular police forces to strengthen the security grid.Traffic routes were charted well in advance with active involvement of the traffic department. Detailed route mapping was followed by route marches. Additional CP Vinita Sahu played a key role in coordination. CP Vishwas Nangre Patil along with joint CP Navinchandra Reddy and DCP Rao, held joint multiple meetings with the Hazrat Tajuddin Baba Trust committee members, including chairman Pyare Khan, who’s also Minority Commission chairman, to finalise the security arrangements.On the ground, nearly 300 CCTV cameras — 100 from the police control room and 200 from the Baba Tajuddin Trust — provided comprehensive, and real-time monitoring of the gathering.Sector patrolling was introduced, with every segment placed under a dedicated officer. Sabotage checks were carried out for five consecutive days, while nakabandis were reinforced with personnel from Anti-Terrorist Cell and special branch of city police. The entire operation revolved around two core objectives set by CP Vishwas Nangre Patil — anti-stampede and anti-sabotage measures.Anti-stampede barricading with ropes was prominently implemented. AI-driven software was deployed to identify and track known criminals, providing instant feedback to field teams.A mini control room was established for coordinated command, with constant swapping of CCTV feeds and drone surveillance playing a pivotal role in monitoring crowd movement from above.Collaborative efforts between police, Trust committee, and various stakeholders ensured devotees could participate in Shahi Sandal with complete peace of mind.
