Mumbai:
In a first, city police plan to hire private detectives, in the wake of terror threats
As you bow in obeisance before Lord Ganesha at a mandal this year, you could have private detectives looking over your shoulder.
In the wake of looming terror threats, the police have, for the first time, instructed various city mandals to hire the services of private detectives to ensure that pandals are secure and the festival passes off peacefully, police sources said.
Ganeshotsav will be celebrated on September 11. The next couple of months will see a slew of festivals like dahi handi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramzan and Diwali -- all of which are celebrated with traditional fervour.
The job assigned to detectives will include keeping a hawk's eye on any suspicious elements looking to foment trouble. Besides, the private detectives are expected to look out for pickpocket gangs.
The matter came up for discussion during a high-level meeting with the city Commissioner of Police. Senior police officers holding the ranks of Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner were present to discuss issues relating to the Ganesh festival.
The final call about private detectives will now be taken by Commissioner of Police (Mumbai), Sanjeev Dayal. If things go to plan, the process of hiring of detectives will begin by next week.
With matters still to take shape, none of the senior police officials were willing to comment on the issue.
"It is a good idea to hire detectives as they too are professionals," an additional commissioner of police said on condition of anonymity. "We are already facing a staff crunch and with a line-up of so many festivals in the next two months, it will be hectic for us." The police will also call trustees and presidents of Ganesh mandals to seek every minute detail.
The police will keep a list of mandals with details of every volunteer deployed by the mandals. "If the concept of detectives works during the Ganesh festival, we might consider extending this security plan for other events like Navratri," said a police official.
As usual, the police have already instructed mandals to hire private security to manage crowds of devotees. Police officials said that additional security would be deployed this year at mandals like the one at Lalbaug, Girgaum and Dadar.
Intelligence Bureau reports have indicated that terrorists could strike during the Ganesh festival. Details of the report, however, are under wraps.
"We are taking all measures for security during festivals. We have our plan in place but cannot reveal it," said Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Dayal.
"If detectives are hired it will be good for the security and we will co-operate with the police for security of devotees and pandals. We will conduct a verification of volunteers of our mandal and private security is always hired by us to maintain discipline in long queues. We also have special women guards to keep an eye on women devotees," said Kamlesh Rai, member of Marol Ganesh Utsav Mandal
As you bow in obeisance before Lord Ganesha at a mandal this year, you could have private detectives looking over your shoulder.
In the wake of looming terror threats, the police have, for the first time, instructed various city mandals to hire the services of private detectives to ensure that pandals are secure and the festival passes off peacefully, police sources said.
Ganeshotsav will be celebrated on September 11. The next couple of months will see a slew of festivals like dahi handi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Ramzan and Diwali -- all of which are celebrated with traditional fervour.
The job assigned to detectives will include keeping a hawk's eye on any suspicious elements looking to foment trouble. Besides, the private detectives are expected to look out for pickpocket gangs.
The matter came up for discussion during a high-level meeting with the city Commissioner of Police. Senior police officers holding the ranks of Joint Commissioner and Additional Commissioner were present to discuss issues relating to the Ganesh festival.
The final call about private detectives will now be taken by Commissioner of Police (Mumbai), Sanjeev Dayal. If things go to plan, the process of hiring of detectives will begin by next week.
With matters still to take shape, none of the senior police officials were willing to comment on the issue.
"It is a good idea to hire detectives as they too are professionals," an additional commissioner of police said on condition of anonymity. "We are already facing a staff crunch and with a line-up of so many festivals in the next two months, it will be hectic for us." The police will also call trustees and presidents of Ganesh mandals to seek every minute detail.
The police will keep a list of mandals with details of every volunteer deployed by the mandals. "If the concept of detectives works during the Ganesh festival, we might consider extending this security plan for other events like Navratri," said a police official.
As usual, the police have already instructed mandals to hire private security to manage crowds of devotees. Police officials said that additional security would be deployed this year at mandals like the one at Lalbaug, Girgaum and Dadar.
Intelligence Bureau reports have indicated that terrorists could strike during the Ganesh festival. Details of the report, however, are under wraps.
"We are taking all measures for security during festivals. We have our plan in place but cannot reveal it," said Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Dayal.
"If detectives are hired it will be good for the security and we will co-operate with the police for security of devotees and pandals. We will conduct a verification of volunteers of our mandal and private security is always hired by us to maintain discipline in long queues. We also have special women guards to keep an eye on women devotees," said Kamlesh Rai, member of Marol Ganesh Utsav Mandal
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