Belagavi : Belagavi district police have put in place elaborate security and surveillance arrangements for this year’s Ganesh festival and immersion processions, while appealing to devotees and organisers to celebrate peacefully and avoid noise pollution.
As many as 6,677 Ganesh idols will be installed at public places across the district, excluding Belagavi city, according to Superintendent of Police K Ramarajan. Athani subdivision is expected to record the highest number of immersions (1,716), followed by Gokak (1,526), Chikodi (1,372), Ramdurg (1,087) and Bailhongal (976). To ensure smooth celebrations, police have deployed one additional SP, six deputy superintendents, 25 inspectors, 100 sub-inspectors, 1,700 police personnel and 600 home guards. Additional reinforcements include 10 platoons of the District Armed Reserve (DAR), six platoons of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) and one company of the Rapid Action Force (RAF). Police have conducted 692 peace committee meetings and initiated preventive action against 5,867 persons. For surveillance, police will use 83 automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, 100 portable CCTV cameras and two drones.
Thirty individuals have been externed, while cases under the Goonda Act have been registered against four persons. A strict ban has been imposed on high-decibel DJ systems, with organisers directed to adhere to prescribed noise limits. Police have urged Ganesh mandals to promote traditional folk and cultural troupes instead.