35,000 Ganeshsevaks to tackle terror threats

Post-26/11, bomb squad trains volunteers from city's prominent mandals to deal with explosives

Amid terror alerts, the Mumbai police has gone the extra mile to beef up security this Ganesh festival.

Around 35,000 mandal volunteers have joined bomb squads and paramilitary forces to stand guard at the city's 10,349 mandals.

A week before Ganesh Chaturthi, the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) trained volunteers to take control of the situation in case of a bomb scare at a pandal.

Through presentations, members of prominent pandals have been educated about explosives and the various mediums used by terrorists to plant bombs.

Ritesh Kumar, additional commissioner of police, eastern region, said, "In the aftermath of 26/11, we have trained people from various social organisations and Ganesh mandals so that they can double up as security personnel. Their alertness will make the job of the police force much easier."

Through the 10-day festival the police will be in touch with the heads of all Ganesh mandals.

A cop from Tilak Nagar police station, also in-charge of Chembur's Sahyadri Ganesh Mandal, said, "Under the guidance of the BDDS, mandals are confident of tackling threats."

25,000
Cops deployed at Ganesh mandals in Mumbai