Nagpur: With Ganesh idol immersions scheduled over three days from Sept 25 to 27, city police have unveiled an extensive security plan, deploying nearly 5,000 personnel across Nagpur to ensure public safety and smooth conduct of the festivities. The security arrangement will comprise riot control units, Quick Response Teams (QRTs), women police personnel, and home guards stationed at key locations across the city.Police estimates suggest that immersion processions will include 1,702 idols installed by sarvajanik Ganesh mandals, around 20,000 to 25,000 idols from housing societies and residential colonies, and nearly 1.5 lakh idols from individual households.Special security and crowd-management measures have been put in place at major immersion points, including Gorewada Lake, Sonegaon Lake, Kachhi Visa artificial pond in Lakadganj, and locations along Kolar and Vena rivers.Commissioner of police Vishwas Nangre Patil reviewed the arrangements with senior officers and directed them to remain vigilant throughout the immersion period.As part of the deployment strategy, each Ganesh mandal will have a police constable assigned to it, while senior officers will “adopt” specific mandals for close monitoring and coordination.Police will erect watchtowers at sensitive locations and deploy drones to monitor crowds and processions from the air. Plainclothes personnel, along with a sizeable contingent of women police officers, will also be deployed. The crime branch has been tasked with keeping a close watch on anti-social elements and criminal activities during the celebrations.Authorities have appealed to Ganesh mandals to cooperate by ensuring that vehicles used in processions possess valid fitness certificates issued by Regional Transport Office (RTO). Mandals have also been asked to avoid playing loud DJ music violating the norms and to prevent any incidents of hooliganism during the immersion processions.Police officials said further meetings with mandal representatives will be held in the coming days to strengthen coordination and facilitate peaceful immersions across the city.With lakhs of devotees expected to visit immersion sites over the three-day period, police said the security blueprint has been designed with a focus on crowd management, public safety and uninterrupted traffic movement.
