High alert in the city for Ayodhya verdict
News — By The Desk on September 30, 2010 at 12:41 PM
Indian Express: In a bid to collect every piece of information about any untoward incident in the city after the Ayodhya title suit verdict on Thursday, Pune Police Commissioner Meeran Borwankar has appealed to citizens to take videos of persons found involved in any suspicious activity on their cellphones.
“The video recordings and any such information could be passed to us by calling the control room or by e-mail to crimecomp.pune@nic.in. Though we are hopeful that the city will remain peaceful after the verdict, we are not taking any chances. Those found damaging public property and causing any disturbance would be booked under stringent sections. The cases against them cannot be withdrawn later,” she said.
Borwankar said about 7,000 policemen, including senior officers and three SRPF companies, 700 home guards and volunteers would be on duty on Thursday.
Earlier, she convened a joint meeting of officers from the city police, fire brigade, district collectorate, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL), Home Guard, Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mandal Ltd (PMPML), Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Sassoon Hospital. “All organisations are working in proper co-ordination. Policemen attached to the anti-encroachment squads of PMC and PCMC would also be on bandobast duty.”
Sensitive spots graded
The police have graded sensitive spots in the city. There are 74 hyper-sensitive areas coming under grade A, which include parts of Kondhwa, Camp, Khadki, Hadapsar and some spots in Pimpri-Chinchwad. There will also be a special watch on the newly-emerged sensitive spots in the fringe areas of the city.
“Cops at police stations and chowkies will remain extra alert. Suspected mischief makers have been identified and preventive detentions are being done,” joint commissioner of police Ashok Dhivre said.
Deputy commissioner (special branch) Makrand Ranade said security would be provided to 11 PMPML bus depots. Volunteers have been asked to keep a watch on religious places and statues.
Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar has instructed district administration officials to ensure that all offices and educational institutions remain functional.
crackers banned till Oct 3
The government has banned firecrackers till October 3 so that one community cannot celebrate the Ayodhya verdict by offending another. The police have made over 4,000 preventive arrests across the state.
“We have issued a complete ban on firecrackers in the state,” said Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Chandra Iyengar.
