Coimbatore, September 9, 2013: Security has been strengthened across the urban and rural areas with the police stepping up patrolling and intensifying vehicle checks to ensure smooth and peaceful Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations on Monday.

Permission

City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said that permission had been given for installation of nearly 340 idols in the city limits.

More than 2,000 police personnel would be deployed for security, regulating the crowd and the processions. Each and every idol would be provided with a police escort.

The number of squads had been increased and surveillance of sensitive areas stepped up.

In the city limits, there would be as many as 149 idols by Hindu Munnani, 20 by Shiv Sena, 30 by Bharat Sena, 41 by Indu Makkal Katchi – Hanuman Sena, 29 by Indu Makkal Katchi – Tamilagam, 9 by Bharatiya Janata Party, 19 by Vishwa Hindu Parishad, 11 by Vivekananda Peravai and there would be around more than 30 idols from the public.

To ensure peaceful completion of the immersion processions, a detailed schedule had been drawn up. Immersion of idols was allowed in urban areas on September 9, 10, 11, 13, 15. M. Sudhakar, Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore Rural, said that more than 700 personnel had been mobilised for security duty. Permission had been given for around 1,100 idols. Immersion of idols in rural areas was allowed on September 10, 11, 12 and 15. The procession organisers had also been instructed to provide security for the idols.

Cases registered

The Kattoor police on Saturday registered a case against State General Secretary of Bharat Sena Senthil Kannan and district organiser Kumaresan for erecting a flex board without permission near Power House.

Separately, five persons were arrested on Saturday for digging pits and erecting pandhals without permission on Sundakkamuthur Main Road near Moovendhar Nagar for Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations.

Based on a complaint from V. Nandhini, Village Administrative Officer, the Kuniamuthur police registered a case against R. Kathiresan (29), N. Prabhu (27), R. Rajendran (23), M. Sathish (23), and S. Manivannan (23).

Source: The Hindu, September 9, 2013