Police gear up for Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations

The police of Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, and Sri Sathya Sai districts are gearing up for the smooth conduct of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations commencing on August 27.

From issuing instructions and guidelines on the installation of Ganesh pandals to conducting peace committee meetings, the police department is taking all possible steps to ensure the festivities are held in a peaceful manner without any untoward incidents.

In Kurnool, Superintendent of Police Vikrant Patil held a meeting with religious leaders urging their cooperation for the smooth conduct of the festivities. He instructed the organisers to instal CCTVs at the pandals without fail and ensure that one or two persons stay at the pandal during night for safety and security.

Mr. Patil urged the organisers not to create problems for the flow of traffic at the pandals and follow the instructions given by the police. The SP urged the people not to believe rumours and unverified reports that circulate on social media and said that the police is monitoring social media and WhatsApp groups. Mr. Patil said that the security would be intensified to prevent any untoward incident in the district.

Nandyal Superintendent of Police Adhiraj Singh Rana directed the organisers to take permission from the police through https://ganeshutsav.net and download the verified QR code and display it at the pandal and also submit the same at the local police station. He said that the organisers should form a committee of more than five persons and submit the details with the local police along with their Id proofs.

The SP said that the organisers should get permission from the private land owners, if the pandal is installed on a private land, and from the panchayat or municipal officials, if it is a government land. Mr. Rana said that permission from fire services and electricity department is mandatory and asked organisers to take precautions to prevent fire accidents at the pandals.

He said asked the organisers to give details of the height of the idol, the number of days the idol will be kept and the immersion procession route in advance. Further, the organisers were asked not to use loud speakers from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. next day.

In Anantapur district, Tadipatri ASP Rohit Kumar Choudary held a meeting with religious leaders and urged the people of all communities to celebrate the festival in a peaceful manner. Similar meeting was held by the Sri Sathya Sai district police for the smooth conduct of the festival.