Pune police on high alert on bandh day

The Pune police have taken serious note of the bandh call given by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine on Tuesday and are on high alert.

Three additional companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and 400 Home Guards have been requisitioned by the city police.

Joint commissioner of police, Ashok Dhivare said, “The entire city police force will be deployed to ensure that no untoward incidents take place and law and order is maintained. We have two SRPF companies and another three have been called in. Bandobast will be deployed at fixed points and in sensitive areas.”

Additional patrols and quick response teams will be on duty on Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner of police (special branch), Makarand Ranade said, “Calling for a bandh is illegal as per the Supreme Court’s directive and hence people should refrain from participating, supporting or provoking citizens into taking part. We have taken preventive action against anti-social elements and issued notices to all political parties to desist from creating any law and order problem,” Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal and PMC commissioner, Mahesh Zagade, have been provided with armed security.

“There will be heavy deployment of police personnel in sensitive areas like Kothrud and Warje, where violence has been reported during previous bandhs,” DCP Ranade said, adding that police would file a contempt of court case against the parties since the bandh is in violation of the SC directive.

Meanwhile, the Sena-BJP took out a morcha from Lal Mahal to the PMC building on Monday afternoon. After the morcha, while violence was reported at PMC building, the office of the Sambhaji Brigade in Navi Peth was ransacked.