Heightened security for 'palkhi' processions

The Pune police would deploy more than 5,000 police personnel, 400 home guards and three companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) during the palkhi (palanquin) procession in the city.

Moreover, the city police and the Pune rural police have set up special squads to prevent incidents like chain-snatching, pickpocketing and eve-teasing during the annual pilgrimage.

The deputy commissioner of police (crime), Rajesh Bansode, told DNA that the squad comprising of members from four crime units of different zones would keep an eye on every movement of the people during the procession to prevent any untoward incident.

“Members of the squad would be dressed in mufti. We would also depute female police personnel in the squad. The members will remain in touch with each other through their cellphones,” said Bansode.

“Five teams of the bomb detection and disposal squad  and four quick response teams have been readied for the procession,” police officials said. Both the Sant Tukaram palkhi and the Sant Dnyaneshwar palkhi would arrive in the city on the morning of June 25 and stay till Sunday.

The superintendent of police (rural), Sandip Karnik, said two policemen from police stations in Pune rural would accompany the palkhi processions.

Different citizens’ organisations and local political leaders have collected photographs of suspects, who are at large and within two days these photos would be put up at various chowkis to
alert citizens.