Udupi: The Udupi district police have made elaborate security arrangements across the district for the peaceful conduct of Ganesh Chaturthi, including idol installation and immersion programmes.SP Hariram Shankar said 492 Ganesha idols would be installed and immersed across the district. Of these, 415 locations have been classified as normal, 74 as sensitive and three as highly sensitive. Immersion will be held on different dates between Sept 14 and 29. The highest number of immersions are scheduled for Sept 14, followed by 114 on Sept 16 and 108 on Sept 15. The remaining immersions are scheduled between Sept 17 and 29. No immersions are planned on Sept 21, 27 and 28.The police have identified designated routes and immersion points under various police stations. Special surveillance arrangements have been made at sensitive and highly sensitive locations, SP said.Police have conducted 22 peace committee meetings across the district. Ganeshotsava committees and community leaders attended these meetings. Police have initiated preventive action to maintain law and order during the festivities. According to records for 2026, action has been initiated against 611 people under various preventive provisions, while 487 people have been bound over.Organisers have been instructed to conduct idol immersions only at designated locations and along prescribed routes, and to follow the directions issued by police and other authorities. Public has also been urged to comply with traffic regulations during processions and ensure that the movement of vehicles is not disrupted. Police appealed to organisers and the public to refrain from provocative slogans, untoward incidents and unlawful activities.A total of 996 police personnel and officers have been deployed for security and traffic management during the celebrations. The deployment includes ASPs/DSPs: 3, Circle police inspectors: 7, Police sub-inspectors: 37, Assistant sub-inspectors: 83, head constables, police constables and women police constables: 680, KSRP platoons: 3, home guards: 163, public address systems: 12 and drones: 3The district administration has prohibited the sale of liquor on Sept 14, 16 and 18 in view of Ganeshotsava. As per an order issued by the DC, liquor sales will be banned across Udupi district from 6am to midnight on Sept 14. The ban will be in force in Udupi town from 2pm to midnight on Sept 16. On Sept 18, it will apply from 2pm to midnight, where idol immersions are scheduled, including Gangolli, Kundapur town and Kaup.In Dakshina KannadaA total of 230 Ganesh idols will be installed in areas under Dakshina Kannada police jurisdiction, including 48 in Bantwal subdivision and 103 in Belthangady subdivision. The security deployment comprises one Additional SP, four DSPs, seven PIs/CPIs, 34 PSIs, 52 ASIs and 520 police personnel. Also, 150 home guards, five KSRP platoons and five DAR platoons have been deployed. In Mangaluru city police limits, 174 idols will be installed.
