(Image source from: Oneindia.com)
The Mumbai Police will send over 21,000 staff members to keep peace during the idol immersions on Anant Chaturdashi, which is the last day of the Ganesh festival, happening on Saturday (September 6) in the city. On Friday, the police announced they were on high alert following a call to the Mumbai traffic police helpline. The call claimed that 34 “human bombs” containing 400 kg of RDX were hidden in vehicles to cause explosions that could disturb the entire city. The police also mentioned that the Crime Branch has started looking into the threat, and they have informed the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and other agencies. They revealed that the message referenced a group named 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi'.
Many worshippers visited the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Mumbai on Friday morning to pray during the Ganesh Chaturthi festivities. The ten-day Ganeshotsav events began on August 27, known as Ganesh Chaturthi, or Vinayak Chaturthi. This festival is about honoring Lord Ganesha as the deity of new starts and the one who removes hurdles. The event concludes on Anant Chaturdashi and is celebrated with beautifully decorated homes and pandals, prayers, music, and lively parades. Discussing the arrangements for the immersion of Ganesh idols in Mumbai, Satyanarayan Chaudhary, the joint police commissioner (Law and Order), stated that around 6,500 community idols and over 150,000 household Ganpatis will be immersed on Saturday. The city has been prepared with 65 natural sites and 205 ponds, all secured, and outfitted with CCTV cameras, public announcement systems, and lifeguards.
The security measures include sending in 10 additional commissioner-rank officers, 40 DCPs, 3,000 inspectors, and 15,000 constables, along with 14 SRPF companies, four CAPF companies, riot-control teams, QRT, and BDDS units. There are more than 10,000 CCTV cameras set up, with women officers, both in uniform and plain clothes, stationed at immersion spots to ensure security. To oversee and monitor, artificial intelligence tools will be utilized to observe crowds. Citizens can contact the Police Control Room at 112 if they need help, he stated. Two prohibitive orders have also been put in place, one restricting the sharing and photography of immersed idols on social media, and the other banning drones in certain areas. Anil Kumbhare, the joint commissioner of police (Traffic), mentioned that traffic police will also be in the city to facilitate smooth vehicle movement.
The person who sent the message stated that 14 terrorists have arrived in the city and set up 400 kg of RDX in 34 cars for explosions, which will “shake the nation,” according to an official. While looking into the source of this communication, the police are taking steps to avoid any unfortunate events in the city. The official mentioned that security has been strengthened at important spots and search operations are happening in various areas. The police have also asked people in Mumbai not to trust rumors and to report anything strange, he said. Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, along with Nita Ambani, the founder-chairperson of Reliance Foundation, visited Lalbaugcha Raja on Wednesday evening to pray at the well-known Ganesh pandal. Previously, celebrities Malaika Arora and Shilpa Shetty were seen requesting blessings from Lord Bapa at Lalbaugcha Raja. A few days ago, 'Param Sundari' co-stars Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra also went to Lalbaugcha Raja to ask for Lord Ganpati's blessings. Actor Anil Kapoor also went to Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja pandal recently to offer his prayers there.
