COUNTDOWN BEGINS: A Ganesh idol being readied for installation. — Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Watch towers, Internet protocol television sets, teams collecting specific information about troublemakers, counter-action teams and fire safety measures at pandals! Incorporating these new concepts, the city police top brass hopes to conduct the 11-day-long Ganesh festival beginning on Sunday peacefully.

"From drawing more than 22,000 policemen to asking municipal officials to ensure no stray animals moved near pandals, we have worked out details to ensure the festival is incident-free," city Police Commissioner A.K. Mohanty said at a press conference here on Friday.

From Sunday, Ganesh idols will be immersed along the Necklace Road on third, fifth, seventh and ninth days. The final procession and immersion of nearly 3,500 idols -185 of them more than 15 feet high- would be held on September 6. While 12,000 policemen would be on duty till August 5, double that number would be posted on the final day of immersion. In city, jurisdiction of a police station is divided into sectors. For the first time, higher-ups have decided to allot jeeps to each of these 200 sectorsSpecial teams comprising plainclothes policemen would collect details about troublemakers. "More policemen will be available in the station to attend to complaints about crimes," Mr. Mohanty said. Teams including sniffer dogs and anti-sabotage squads would inspect vulnerable places.

Appeal to public

Anti-social elements are being rounded up and warned. As many as 800 communication sets are being given to the force. The Commissioner appealed to people to inform police about vehicles kept idle for a long time and suspicious persons.

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