18,000 Police personnel to be on duty in Chennai for Deepavali
Mufti policemen and women will be deployed in crowded areas to monitor the criminals and to prevent crimes.
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CHENNAI: For Deepavali festivities on November 12, the Greater Chennai Police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure safety and security of public, who are expected to congregate in large numbers in commercial shopping hubs.
Commissioner Sandeep Rai Rathore has directed 18,000 personnel to be deployed for crowd control, crime prevention, traffic regulation among other duties with strengths drawn from all wings of the city police, Armed Reserve, Tamil Nadu Special Police and Home Guards.
Temporary Watch Towers have been set up at T Nagar (7), Washermenpet (3), Kilpauk (3) and Flower Bazaar (4). Police personnel have been deployed on a rotational basis to monitor the crime directly and through 21 binoculars.
Five temporary police control rooms and 10 temporary help desks have been set up in these areas. Arrangements have been made to hand over the missing kids to their respective families. An additional 42 CCTV cameras have been installed in T Nagar and Washermenpet.
In these shopping hubs, traffic patrol vehicles (Traffic Marshall) have been pressed into services. Also, through 19 Public Address Systems, instructions will be given to prevent theft, crimes and traffic jams. Instructions will also be given on protecting cell phones, money, gold jewellery and belongings.
Four drone cameras — 2 each in T Nagar and Flower Bazaar — will be used. Cops are deployed on rotation basis. Exclusive WhatsApp group has been created to share information on prevention and detection of criminal activities.
Four-wheeler and two-wheeler patrolling is increased. Baggage of the public will be vetted randomly through Mobile X-Ray Baggage Scanner vehicle at commercial establishments, shopping malls and other places.
Women are urged to wear scarf to prevent chain snatching. Cops in mufti will be deployed in crowded areas. As a precautionary measure, 108 Ambulance with medical team, and Fire Engines with fire fighters are in place. Safety measures are in place in and around cracker shops too.
Special bus have been arranged at Koyambedu, Madhavaram and KK Nagar.