Pune City police has geared up for the celebrations of Ashadhi Ekadashi and Bakrid or Eid al-Adha — both on Thursday (June 29), this year. The preparations include multi-agency coordination and meetings with community leaders, with significant police deployment across the city for smooth conduct of the activities. Ashadhi Ekadashi marks the culmination of the 21-day-long religious processions in which the palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj started from Dehu and Alandi in Pune on June 10 and 11, respectively. For Bakrid, the prayer (namaz/salat) — open to the public — will be held at Golibar Maidan Eidgah in Pune on Thursday morning, along with prayers at other mosques and Eidgah grounds across the city. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) R Raja said, "We have made all the necessary arrangements to ensure that the festive fervour is maintained, and both the occasions are marked smoothly across the city." The planned arrangements are in place, and are being coordinated under the supervision of Police Commissioner Retesh Kumaarr and Joint Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik. According to officials, a deployment of around 5,000 police personnel — which is around 75 per cent of the total strength of the Pune city police — will be in place across the city. The weekly offs of police officers and personnel have now been put on hold, to ensure their maximum deployment, said an officer. A group of State Reserve Police Force and 450 personnel of the Maharashtra Home Guard will be also part of the security deployment. "A series of meetings among the community leaders were organised — from the police station to police commissionerate levels — as a confidence building measure," said a senior officer from the Pune city police. "The community leaders have been assured of all the possible assistance from police, for a smooth conduct. Ward peace and mohalla committees from different areas also conducted meetings with officers from the local police stations," according to the officer . An interdepartmental coordination meeting was also organised in view of the festivities, in which representatives from the Pune Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited, and emergency response services discussed the action plan for the day, said another officer, requesting anonymity.
