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Security for Mumbai Ganeshotsav sought
by Siddhi

     Mumbai: Sunday might be the last day of the terror threat warning for the Mumbai Police, but the Ganeshotsav committees in the city are in no mood to take any chance with the 11-day festival approaching. The by-lanes of Lalbaug and Girgaum here are quietly getting ready behind the curtains of pandals (tents) for Ganesha Chaturthi, which is falling on August 27. But in the wake of recent serial blasts and intelligence reports of possible terror attacks, majority of the Ganeshostav committees today held meetings on security measures for the festival. Commenting on the additional security measures taken by the Mandal, Ashok Pawar, Committee member of the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, said, "The police have already provided security for the preparation of the idol. Visitors will be physically frisked twice. First by the police and then by our volunteers".

    At Lalbaug, the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal is using CCTVs to monitor devotees. ''Though it costs a lot, we are installing eight CCTVs as a precautionary measure. We will set up metal detectors too,'' said Ashok Pawar, a Committee member. ''I believe no untoward incident will occur in Mumbai during Ganeshotsav, but we have to take the necessary steps,'' said Hemant dikshit, Kherwadi Ganeshostav Mandal president. Ganeshostav is the most popular festival in Maharashtra. It is celebrated on the 4th day of the bright half of Bhadrapada (August/September) and continues for 10 days from Ganesha Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturdashi, the tenth day when the idols are immersed in ponds, rivers or the sea. High alert has been sounded here following intelligence inputs that terrorists may strike in the city. Considering this, security has been beefed up at important public places like railway stations, bus terminuses, vital installations, religious places and communally sensitive areas. Mumbai Police Commissioner AN Roy had said yesterday that police was directed to be on guard from August 15 to 20 and Sunday being the last day of the warning, the police were extra cautious.

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