City police ensure a safe Ganeshotsav

8,000 cops guarding city

This Ganeshotsav, city police have geared up to make most of its available manpower to help the city stay away from any form of crime. They are being supported by youth, other official departments, sportspersons and NGOs.

Around 3,500 Ganesh mandals have been registered with city police and 8,000 policemen have been deployed to overlook the city’s security.

City police commissioner Gulabrao Pol said, “The deputy commissioner of police from four zones had a meeting with mandals in their respective jurisdictions. They have been directed to place CCTV cameras in their mandals along with proper recordings. It is the mandal’s responsibility to keep a tab on the traffic, crowd and women’s security. Two to four members from each mandal should volunteer to help the police during bandobast. Mandals in sensitive areas should have metal detectors at entry and exist points. We have also requested them to put up pictures/sketches of wanted criminals around the mandal.”

Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Sanjeevkumar Singhal said, “We request the citizens to be alert and immediately report to the nearest police station or control room if any abandoned bag/ product is spotted. Try to vacate the premises without creating panic.”

Deputy commissioner of police (special branch) MB Tambade said, “Two companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) and other forces are active along with our own Quick Response Team (QRT). We have directed the mandals to keep distances and quickly disperse traffic if  emergency vehicles are passing by.”
DCP (ZoneII) Ramnath Pokale said, “Preventive measures have been taken and a special team has been deployed to nab eve-teasers and chain snatchers.”
 

Nagnathpaar mandal has cut down on its décor
expense to provide help to drought-affected villages

Nagnathpaar Sarvajanik Ganapati Mandal Trust, which is in its 121st year,  works for a noble cause. They have cut down their décor expenses since four years, and now plan to collect huge money to serve people suffering from various issues across the state.

Their aim is to reach out to affected villages or cities. This year, the members got together and collected money to provide tankers in drought-affected areas of Shikrapur. The villages there were in dire need of water during summer season.

They also responded to the help call by Chincholi Morachi village and distributed 2,000 kg of food grain for peacocks which are available in large numbers in and around the village. Mandal president Pritesh Kedari has been actively involved in their efforts. Every year, they also make arrangements for 24x7 ambulance services during the last day of visarjan.

Nagnathpaar is a place of historic importance in the city on Kumthekar Road. Here, Balwant Nagnath was summoned to be crushed under the feet of an elephant for being a part of the murder conspiracy of Sawai Madhavrao Peshva and his mother Parvatibai. He was killed near a tree which is now know as Nagnathpaar. The mandal houses the idol of Riddhi-Siddhi Mahaganapati which is also the title of the award they give away. The Riddhi Siddhi award is in its third year and is given to residents involved in social work and help the needy.

Over 10,000 youth help police maintain decorum during fest

This festival, city-based youth from various colleges were trained under the National Service Scheme (NSS) by the city police to lend their support to police authorities and help them maintain a decorum during celebrations.

Over 10,000 youth are part of this initiative and are trying their best to be helpful and alert to reduce crimes in the city.

Clarifying the burden and pressure on policemen, these young students reveal their plan.

Rizwana Shaikh, a 20-year-old first year commerce student, said, “It is a common practice to blame policemen during festivals when things go haywire. But no one realises the long hours they put and the pressure they undergo. For the past three days, I have been volunteering at the Dagdusheth temple. I help handle the crowd if it increases and ease out the traffic.”

The youth have had first-hand experiences at nabbing eve-teasers and trouble-makers.

Priyanka Navaskar, another student who is a part of the group, said, “We have been working with policemen and only now do we realise the efforts they put in to secure us everyday.”

She added, “It is a tough job and requires a lot of stamina and patience. We have to continuously shout and give instructions to people.”

Most of them have had proud moments too when people from the crowd mistake them for policemen.

Nihal Shaikh, a student, said, “I heard about this volunteer service from a friend and decided to give it a try. The crowd is enthusiastic and often mistakes you for an officer. The khaki uniform adds to their confusion. But I am not complaining as it fulfilled my dream of wearing the uniform. People graciously offer prasad as they pass by and it feels good.”

Faizan Shaikh (19) is amazed at people’s enthusiasm and passion. “I have been standing for long hours trying to handle the crowd and avoid troubles. I had often seen these huge crowds on television but experiencing it in person is another thing altogther,” he added.

The students have been using this time to interact with police officials and understand their schedule and working too. Pradip Bele, a son of farmer and a final year student, said, “We have been trained by police and NSS. I am lucky as very few people get an opportunity to work with the police and enjoy festivities at the same time.”

Nikhil Zende, another student, claims that this initiative helped him loosen up and enjoy the festival while being responsibility.
d_chaitraly@dnaindia.net

If a miscreant is troubling you, inform the anti eve-teasing squad and watch him do frog jumps and surya namaskar

If you come across a group of men standing sheepishly near a Ganesh mandal during the 10-day fest, then look around to spot the anti eve-teasing squad.

This squad operates throughout the day at various spots keeping a tab on miscreants or trouble makers. They aim not just at protecting women but also preventing possible crimes in the city.

Ten policemen, five lady constables and an assistant police inspector is what forms this group. Their mission is to have zero tolerance against eve-teasers this Ganeshotsav. They want to send out a strong message about crimes against women.
Assistant police inspector Geeta Bhargawade and her team members will be patrolling the city in civil attire. Bhargawade said, “The uniform alerts the wrong-doers. So, we want to catch them when they are unaware of us being around. We will be in the crowd with no weapons, sticks or walky-talky.”

dna went out and spent three hours with the team to experience their day. They travel across the city throughout the day and intensify their patrolling after 5.30 pm.

“The crowd is lesser during the day but it gets difficult to handle in the late evening. Pushing and groping is an easy attack in a crowd. Here is where we have to be active and alert,” she added.
The punishments if caught guilty for harassing a woman are frog jumps, surya namaskar and also volunteering with the squad.
“The idea is to embarrass them in front of public. Most of them are apologetic and immediately move away. The stubborn ones give us a tough time. And this year, we booked 33 such eve teasers under the provisions of Bombay Police act,” she said.

Sharing her personal experience, a lady constable said, “An old guy passed a lewd comment at me and when I revealed my identity and pulled his collar, he sheepishly said sorry.”
Bhargawade added, “Girls often avoid complaining as they do not want to stretch the matter. So, at these times, we take it upon ourselves and punish the responsible if spotted.  The most common things they do are whistling, singing vulgar lyrics and pass lewd comments.”

Constable Yogita Lonkar said, “Girls should open up and react when pushed or groped. They should raise an alarm and get hold of the culprit with the help of the mob.”