Palkhis to enter Pune on Sunday

Vehicular traffic in many parts of the city will be affected on June 30, July 1 and July 3 as many thoroughfares will be closed for traffic to provide smooth passage for palkhis of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj.

The palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj will leave Dehu on June 30 and reach Akurdi, where it will camp for the night. The palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj will leave Alandi on July 1 and reach Pune the same day. The two palkhis will converge at Sangamwadi and jointly proceed towards their camping sites in the city.

Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi will camp at Nivdungya Vithoba temple while the Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi will camp at Palkhi Vithoba temple. The palkhis will rest in Pune on July 2 and proceed towards Pandharpur on July 3 morning.

Rasta roko on Pune-Mumbai highway

Commuters travelling on Pune-Mumbai route on Friday are likely to face inconvenience as warkaris from Dehu have threatened to stage a rasta roko near Somatane Phata on old Pune-Mumbai highway.

The warkaris are protesting against the industrial and residential development at the base of Bhandara Dongar in Dehu area, where Sant Tukaram is believed to have stayed in solitude for meditation.

The Santbhumi Sanrakshak Sangharsha Samiti is opposing the state government’s idea of excluding the base of Bhandara Dongar and Bhamchandra Dongar while declaring these areas as protected monuments.

According to the members, the government is doing so planning to declare Bhandara Dongar and Bhamchandra Dongar as protected monuments, however it is excluding the base of these hills for the benefit of builders.

The members have threatened to stage a rasta roko near Somatane Phata. Superintendent of police (highway) Dilip Bhujbal said, “If the dharna affects the traffic, we will divert the vehicles to Pune-Mumbai expressway.”

No terror threat: cops
The Pune police have claimed that there is no specific terror alert from the intelligence agencies. Yet, they have roped in specials teams to keep a close watch on such activities in the city. “We have not received any inputs from the agencies. But our Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) will check the palkhi routes regularly. Moreover, the crime branch policemen will gather details.”

Dos and Dont’s
—     If you notice any suspicious object or person, immediately inform the police control room on telephone 100, 26122880, 26126296 or the nearest police station.

—     Don’t touch or handle any suspicious object or take it to the police station

—     Don’t take photographs of suspicious objects

—     Keep a distance of 100 metres from suspicious objects

—     If you notice a suspicious object in a building or office, open all doors and windows and cut off gas connections

—     Leave such buildings peacefully and avoid stampede. Use staircase and avoid using the lift. Help children, women and senior citizens.

—     Around such buildings, remove vehicles from parking area to a safe distance.

—     Don’t spread and believe in rumours, confirm facts from police personnel.

—     If you notice suspicious objects, don’t use or operate cell phones, radio, walkie-talkies, cameras or other electronic or electrical appliances.

CCTVs to keep a watch on processions

Special CCTV cameras will be set up on the raths (chariots) of both palkhis to avoid any untoward incidents during the procession. Deputy commissioner of police MS Tambade said, “We have asked the PMC authorities to install CCTV cameras at main chowks during the processions in the city. Beside, movable CCTV cameras will be installed on the chariots as well so that we can record untoward incidents from the crowd and control the situation.”