Chennai: City police have beefed up security across the city ahead of the Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations on Friday. Around 12,000 police personnel have been deployed across the city to ensure smooth celebrations of the festival.
Earlier, top officers of the city police met leaders of 23 Hindu outfits to ensure peaceful procession of the Ganesh idols during the day of immersion. Outfits have been advised to avoid immersing idols made of plaster of paris or other chemical substances.
“We made it very clear that inflammatory speeches or slogans intended to hurt other religious sentiments won’t be taken lightly and had asked the leaders to ensure that their cadres don’t behave in an unruly manner,” a top official said.
The organisers were told to stick to the routes permitted for the idol procession on the day of immersion. They were also discouraged from using huge speakers as part of their celebrations.
