Hyderabad, September 11: Strict security arrangements have been made by city police in view of central Ganesh procession today at Hyderabad. Apart from the city police paramilitary squads and additional police have also been deployed.
Besides tank bund the police have virtually blockaded all the sensitive places and the mosques, dargahs and chillas wrapped with sheets on the routes of procession.
City police commissioner Mr. A K Khan has directed city police force to remain vigilant and search operation is on.
Home minister Mrs. Sabita Indira Reddy and Director General of Police Mr. Dinesh Reddy visited old city along with police commissioner A K Khan to review the security arrangements.
Home minister appealed to people to maintain communal harmony and said that while participating in the festival with fervour, peace and safety should also be taken into consideration.
Police have made additional security arrangements in view of the bomb blast at the Delhi High Court and the communal violence in Adoni town of Kurnool district. Nearly 30,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, have been deployed for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Ganesh procession through the city and immersion of Ganesh idols in Hussainsagar and other water bodies.
Over one million people are expected to participate in the procession, which brings the city to a grinding halt for the day.
Police have imposed traffic restrictions in most parts of the city for the procession. All flyovers will be closed for vehicular traffic.
The main procession, which starts from Balapur on the outskirts of the city, passes through communally sensitive old city and after covering a distance of about 20 km, reaches Hussainsagar Lake in the heart of the city.
As part of the elaborate security arrangements, police have deployed 35 bomb disposal squads, 40 access control teams, deep search mine detectors, under-carriage mirrors, explosive detectors, anti-sabotage teams and 30 sniffer dogs.
Siasat news