Cops maintain vigil at Ganesh festivities
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 1
Goa police threw an unprecedented security cover in the Commercial capital on Friday evening and maintained a strict vigil as the 21-day Ganesh festivities of the Samarth Gad Temple culminated at the grand immersion Friday evening.
The police did not take nothing to chance, mobilising a huge police force, including reserve police. Flag marches were conducted at the Khareband area, the heart of the city, as well as the Rumdamol Housing Board to instill confidence in the citizens.
Doubts over the procession route were cleared around noon after the organisers requested for the traditional route after the SDM, Margao last night approved the Rawanfond-railway station-Khareband route.
However, after receiving a fresh report from the Margao police, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Johnson Fernandes issued the permission, exempting the organisers from using loudspeakers, besides approving the Power house-Aquem-Malbhat-Kohinoor-Chinchal route to avoid any misunderstanding.
While issuing the permission, the SDM took note of the peaceful situation prevailing in the city on Thursday after the Allahabad High Court verdict and the permission was granted after imposing a host of conditions.
President of the Temple Committee, Jayesh Naik told newsmen that the organisers have received the necessary permission to use the old route and added that the Allahabad High Court verdict will not have any bearing on the immersion procession. “This is the 21-day Ganesh festival organised in entire South Goa. The immersion ceremony evokes tremendous response from the whole of Goa”, he said.
However, not taking any chances, armed police personnel marched with the procession along the entire route and set up pickets at junctions as a precautionary measure.
Even though the procession passed off peacefully, the police were seen in the Housing Board area and other places as a precautionary measure even late in the night.
