Top cop Gulabrao Pol says police will not enforce restrictions on organisers during 10-day fest, expects them to follow self-discipline
Ganesh mandals in the city have a reason to rejoice as Commissioner of Police Gulabrao Pol has announced that no restrictions will be put against them this year. It’s human tendency to break rules. Hence, the police will not lay any restrictions on the organisers during the 10-day festival, and will only emphasise on creating awareness, said Pol while interacting with media persons yesterday.
When asked about the mandals flouting timing norms during the immersion, he said, “We are not going to implement time limitation, but expect the mandals to follow self discipline.”
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Restrictions no more: Devotees take a look at Ganapati Idols put on display at a stall in the city; (inset)u00a0police commissioner Gulabrao Pol addresses mediapersons at Patrakar Bhavan yesterday. Picss/Krunal Gosavi
During the interaction, which was called to brief the media about the preparation ahead of Ganesh festival, Pol hinted that the city police are in a process to withdraw all the charges against the mandals.
Welcoming the move, Anna Thorat, head of Mandai Ganesh Mandal, said, “We appreciate the decision taken by the police commissioner. It will help to conduct the festivities in a smooth way. Besides, all our volunteers will cooperate about the police in any matter whatsoever.”
Likewise, Balasaheb Marne of Baugnu Mandal said, “We welcome the decision, as it will definitely help reduce hostility between cops and volunteers.
Also, the immersion procession will get over quickly, as volunteers used to purposely delay it to mark their protest against restrictions imposed on mandals.” While Narendra Dabholkar of Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, said, “With no restriction in place, the responsibility of police and the mandals will increase manifolds.”
Volunteers ready
Around 5,000 students from different colleges, along with 2,000 NCC cadets will volunteer during the festival. “We have trained these volunteers in controlling crowd, manning roads, bomb threat, etc. Besides, we have around 400 sportspersons, and more than 400 ex-servicemen who'll help the police during the festival,” Pol said. Around 1,000 CCTV cameras have been installed on the way of where immersion processions will pass through.u00a0
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