Police permission for Patel rally in Ahmedabad granted

Ahmedabad

The official police permission for Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti’s (PAAS) pro-reservation Kranti rally to be held here tomorrow in which they have claimed to gather over 25 lakh people as a show of strength to press their demand of inclusion in the other backward classes (OBC) category was finally granted this evening, commissioner of police Shivanand Jha said today.

‘The permission for rally has been granted in the name of the PAAS core committee member Ketan Patel in whose name the main venue for their public meeting GMDC ground has been allotted,’ he said.

In an unprecedented security arrangement bigger than that for annual rath-yatras, over 18000 security personnel including 20 superintendents of police (SPs), 62 DySPs, 244 police inspectors, 504 sub inspectors, 817 women police and 13000 constables and head constables would be deployed in the city to take care of the law and order situation during the rally that would start from the GMDC ground after a public meeting. The rally would reach the collector office near Subhash bridge via Helmet crossing, Vijay crossing, Darpan circle, Stadium five roads, Income tax crossing, Usmanpura crossing and Vadaj crossing, Mr. Jha said addressing a press conference in the police head quarters conference hall.

’28 companies of the state reserve police (SRP), 4 of Rapid Action Force and 15 of Special Operation Group (SOG) and quick response teams, 2 of Chetak Commandoes, would also be the part of the elaborate security arrangements. One flood company of the SRP with 90 expert divers would be deployed in the Sabarmati river. Four UAV Netra would be used for aerial surveillance (one for traffic, two at the meeting place and one for the rest of the city), six command and control vehicles with CCTVs will keep a vigil on rally routes,’ he said adding the arrangement were much larger than the annual rath yatra security deployment.

11 water cannons and 35 tear gas vajra vehicles, 20 bomb detection and disposal squads would also be deployed at strategic locations in the city to take care of any eventuality. Ambulances and fire brigade vehicles have also been kept on alert. Almost 20 routes have been declared no vehicle zones. We have also appealed the citizens not to move in these areas unless very necessary, the police commissioner said adding over 600 CCTV cameras are already installed along the rally route. A special control room near GMDC ground apart from the regular one has also been created. Our cyber cell is also monitoring the rumour mongers on the social media like whatsapp. We appeal the people not to forward any sensitive message without verification from police as it amount to a crime under cyber laws, he said.

He also appealed the people to inform the police about any suspected object or activity to thwart any terror plot in the city which was on the target of terrorists. The crime branch and anti terrorist squad are already conducting search operations in hotels and other public places. As a preemptive measure the police has also detained 1638 people with criminal background since August 11 to 22.

Mr. Jha said that they were also in touch with the Patidar leaders for the peaceful organisation of the rally; He said that so far they have the information of three lakh participation but the police was ready for larger gathering. ‘Even the organizers have not informed us the estimated number,’ he said.

The police has also raised mohalla suraksha samitis in sensitive areas of the city.

On the other hand the organizers claimed to have raised a team of around 40000 volunteers to help the police in controlling the mob during the rally.

The police was taking a two pronged approach. One regarding the traffic and second to avert any possible terror strike, he said adding that four main routes around the GMDC ground; Shivranjani crossing to AEC (132 ft ring road), Nehrunagar circle to Darpan circle, Vijay crossing to Drive in road in Thaltej and Nehrunagar to Iskcon crossing are the main no vehicle zone for the day since six in the morning.

Meanwhile Mr. Ketan Patel said that the rally would begin at around 2 pm after the meeting and also cross through Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram.

– DeshGujarat