Security: mandals turn to agencies,hi-tech gadgets

City Police and Ganesh mandals across the city seem to be taking no chances with security this year.

City Police and Ganesh mandals across the city seem to be taking no chances with security this year. While the police have beefed up vigil,the mandals themselves have opted for private security agencies and installed modern gadgets.

The city has more than 10,000 Ganesh mandals,with most of them having dedicated cadres to look after security. We have asked the mandals to have a team of 10 karyakartas (members) that work in shifts and look after security, said Narendra Dahibawkar,secretary of Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti.

Bigger mandals like Lalbaugcha Raja have sought the help of private security agencies.

We do rope in private security agencies,but this time these guards will be deployed 100 metres away. They will look after crowd management and man queues, said Satish Khankar,president of Lalbaughcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. The mandal also uses CCTV cameras and metal detectors.

Police Zone IV,which covers areas like Sion,Matunga,Kalachowkie,Wadala,Parel and Lalbaug,has some 12 big mandals that see more than 5-25 lakh devotees every year. This year,we have deployed five commando teams,six platoons of CRPF,SRPF,First Respondent Team and Delta Mobile, said Sanjay Baviskar DCP Zone IV. Plus,two officers of DCP rank,five ACP-rank officers and some 200 inspector to sub-inspector rank officers will also be deployed. ENS

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