With the Navratri festival commencing today, the Ahmedabad Police have unveiled a comprehensive security plan for the city and its surrounding rural areas. The Police force will deploy over 9,000 personnel, including 15 DCPs and 30 ACPs, to ensure law and order during the nine-day celebrations.
City and Rural Security Deployment
The security blanket extends to Ahmedabad’s rural belt, where 792 Garba events are scheduled in areas like Bopal, Aslali, and Sanand. For these locations, the rural police have deployed 1,700 personnel, including Home Guards and GRD officers, under the supervision of 4 DYSPs, 20 Police Inspectors, and 31 PSIs. Help desks with direct contact numbers of officers will be set up at major venues.
Ahmedabad Rural SP, Omprakash Jat, emphasized a focus on women’s safety. All police vehicles will be on patrol throughout the festival, and citizens can contact the 112 helpline or venue help desks for assistance.
Key Guidelines for Event Organizers and Public
The police have issued specific guidelines for event organizers:
- Sound Limits: Music must cease by 12:00 AM.
- Surveillance: Large venues must install four watchtowers and CCTV cameras covering the event area and parking. Video recording from the towers is mandatory.
- Safety Measures: Ambulances must be on standby at Garba grounds. For the traditional ‘Dandiya Raas’, participants are advised not to wear transparent clothing. Organizers must arrange for private security volunteers based on the expected crowd size.
- Checks: Surprise checks will be conducted at hotels and farmhouses.
Traffic and Enforcement
The Traffic Police will be on high alert, taking strict action against vehicles with dark film, without number plates, and those involved in racing. So far, action has been taken against 3,600 cars with illegal dark film and 7,300 vehicles with improper number plates. Police will also be deployed in identified dark spots on the S.G. Highway, near Sindhu Bhavan, and along the Riverfront.
Out of 84 applications received from event organizers, permission has been granted to 29, with the rest still under process. Additionally, 4,800 women have been trained in civil defence to assist with security.
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