Pune youth become cops’ eyes to guard festival against any untoward incident

While the city youngsters, in the recent days have been in the news for their vocal opposition to the incidents of moral policing by the city police, a group of around 5,000 youngsters are spending their days and nights assisting the authorities in managing the crowd during the fest.

Shanoor Sheikh (19), a resident of Katraj, who is patrolling the streets at the busy Belbaugh Chowk helping the police, said, “This is my first year and it indeed is an eye opener for me,” he said.
A student of the Sinhagad College of Commerce, Sheikh said that it is good to work with the cops and understand the problems faced by them.

The youngsters, who have sacrificed their evenings of customary roaming with friends claim that they are feeling a new sense of responsibility while patrolling. Other than patrolling the streets, from 6pm to 11pm, these youngsters are helping the police check the bags. Gitanjali Adhawade (20), a resident of Dhankavdi, said that this experience is indeed an eye opener and she has understood the patience the cops need to have to control the crowd.

“However, the behaviour of the common man leaves much to be desired and I wish they improve on their civic skills,” she said. Amar Borse (19) a second year student of SP College said that this experience has made them realise how their so called fun quotient is indeed a headache for the police.