Vadodara, 5 September 2014

So after three incidents of violence related to Ganesh utsav, how Vadodara police completed the job of peaceful final procession on Ganesh visarjan day in Vadoara successfully? Three ideas worked mainly.

-Junagadhi Ganesh procession was fast forwarded by police in sensitive area. Police didn’t allow procession to stay in sensitive area for longer.

-Shops on procession route in sensitive area were asked to remain close.

-Police sealed 10 streets of Muslim localities using iron plates, so that Muslims can’t come to main road. Barricades were also installed additionally.

-Police jawans equipped with binoculars and riot control equipments were deployed on roof tops(dhaba points).

-Heavy police deployment was made in deep points that may overpower a prospective group of rioters.

-Extra police force was called from State Reserve Police and Rapid Action Force.

-Police had deployed mobile security CCTV unit for surveillance of Juni Gadhi procession. Rs. 35 lakh CCTV van has LCD screens to view live recording. It has been named as CCTV Security Unit. It has 9 HD cameras. The central camera on top can go upto 18 ft. It has cutter arrangement to cut trees and cables. It has also flood light arrangement which can focus over 400 meter area. System operator sitting in vehicle can clearly visualize all the things present in 750 meter range. One can read number plate and clearly view a person’s face in this range using this camera. CCTV camera operates in 360 degree mode. All cameras are weatherproof. The cameras are also vibration proof. Even if the van runs at 100 km speed, cameras would not vibrate. To charge the batteries, the vehicle also can use solar panel. The van can relay visuals live. Police officers can view live visuals sitting in their office.

-Home Secretary and state police chief themselves were in Vadodara to supervise bandobast.

-Vadodara police had ordered UAV for aerial surveillance of Junigadhi visarjan yatra. But it could not take off today.

-With VMC’s support, trees were trimmed for clear view of street lights. All lights on routes were repaired.

-Combing operation and intensive checking was conducted by DCP South Gautam Parmar ahead of the yatra in sensitive areas.

-9 special police vehicles were ordered from Ahmedabad.

-140 persons were arrested in connection with fresh three riot cases. 114 were asked to leave Vadodara, 192 were sent to different jails.

-Group messages and mobile internet services are put on halt in city area.

It should be mentioned that Juni Gadhi Ganesh murti was featuring Narendra Modi this year. A big statue of Narendra Modi in sitting position was holding Shri Ganesh’s murti in his hand. Congress had opposed this as model code of conduct is effective due to 13th September Vadodara Lok Sabha by-election. However organizers responded to this complain and said it was not Narendra Modi’s statue at all.

Following two incidents of attack over Ganesh processions, over 25,000 devotees from all over Vadodara had gathered in processions passing through this area that involve 350 small/big Ganesh murtis.

There were two attacks on Ganesh processions and one incident of stone pelting and mob violence in connection with Ganesh Utsav in Vadodara earlier. State Home Secretary Nanda and police chief Thakur had visited Vadodara and asked to remove encroachments from the roads in sensitive areas and deployment of experienced police men familiar to deal with specific sensitive localities.

On Ganesh utsav related violence in Vadodara this year