Additional security forces in Hyderabad for Ganesh festival

Hyderabad: The Telangana police is exploring the possibility of getting additional personnel from Karnataka for security for the Ganesh festival this year. Since Bakrid on September 25 falls during the 10-day Ganesh festivities starting September 17 and AP may provide a few cops, additional security forces are needed in the city.

Less than 3,000 cops from other districts of Telangana will be posted in Hyderabad, while the usual festival deployment is more than 20,000. More than 10 companies of paramilitary forces and more than 30 bomb disposal squads will also be in action. Security of 25 lakes including Hussainsagar, Saroornagar, Safilguda, Durgam Cheruvu, Pallaycheruvu, and Suraram tank, where the immersion of idols will take place, has been reviewed by senior officials.

While senior officials say that AP police is reluctant to provide more forces to Hyderabad due to the major deployment at Tirupati for the Brahmotsavams, it is also suspected to be because of the rising tension between the police departments of the two states after the cash for vote scam.

Senior Telangana state police officials said they had contacted the Karnataka police to provide forces for the festival. “We have approached the Karnataka police. However, no confirmation has been received on this yet. It can only be finalised in the next two days,” said Hyderabad police commissioner Mahender Reddy.

Police has identified nearly 300 hyper sensitive and more than 550 sensitive areas in the city and outskirts. Police officials said extra CCTV cameras and mobile patrolling teams will be on the roads as part of the security arrangements.

The cameras will cover the main routes of the procession.

The police have also started rounding up anti social elements, rowdy sheeters, and other miscreants before the festival in order to avoid untoward incidents in the city.