15,000 cops to guard Ganesh immersion festivities in Hyderabad

Over 15,000 security personnel have been deployed for the smooth conduct of Ganesh idol immersion processions in Hyderabad tomorrow, a top police official said.

All arrangements have been completed for tomorrow's annual procession of Ganesh idol immersion in the city.

Over 15,000 security personnel from state police, including 13 companies of para-military forces, will be deployed to ensure that the final mega procession passes off peacefully, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma told reporters.

The ten-day long Ganesh festival concludes tomorrow. To prevent untoward incidents, as many as 32 bomb disposal squads, including 25 sniffer dogs, will be pressed into service, Sharma said. Special pickets will be set up at 290 hyper sensitive and 580 sensitive areas in the city, he said, adding police will also keep a close eye on the procession routes, with as many as 800 CCTV cameras being put in place that will be monitored through a 'Command and Control Centre'. 390 mobile patrolling teams will also oversee the security arrangements. We will also closely monitor movement of anti-social elements, the  Hyderabad police chief said.

We held a meeting with Ganesh Utsav Samithi members and other organisations in view of immersion and they have assured that no heavy music systems will be used during the procession, Sharma said. Over 50,000 small and big Ganesh idols are expected to be immersed in Hussain Sagar lake and in other lakes across the city for which police have already announced traffic diversions on specific routes.