Vinayaka Chaturthi: 3,000 police personnel to be deployed in Coimbatore district

COIMBATORE: Around 3,000 police personnel will be deployed in the urban and rural areas of Coimbatore for Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations on Saturday.
Various Hindu outfits have threatened to defy the government order and install Vinayaka idols on Saturday morning and immerse the idols the same evening. Idol makers in the district opened their roadside stalls hoping for last minute sales.
“Police asked us not to install the idol in public places, instead we are allowed to place idols in temples and houses. We plan to install 247 idols in Coimbatore city on Saturday morning. Some of the idols will be installed at houses and a few others in public places. We are ready to face cases and go to jail,” said T Guna, state executive member of Hindu Munnani.
He added that the organisation members and devotees would maintain social distancing and the idols would be immersed at the water bodies in the city on Saturday evening.
A few other Hindu outfits have also planned to install idols in various places in urban and rural part of Coimbatore on Saturday.
The Madras high court on Friday permitted installation of Vinayaka idols and immersion of the same in water bodies to celebrate Vinayaka Chaturthi by individuals. However, the court clarified that no organisation would be permitted to organise any such celebrations and processions.
The Coimbatore rural police will deploy 1,500 officers to monitor the celebrations.
Ara Arularasu, superintendent of police, Coimbatore district, said that police, fire and rescue services personnel and volunteers would be deployed near the Bhavani river in Mettupalayam where idols would be immersed.
“We won’t allow public to step into the river. The idols will be received by volunteers and will be immersed in the river and other water bodies in the rural part of the district,” he said.
In Coimbatore city, 1,500 police personnel will be deployed. The police have made arrangement at Muthannan Kulam and Kurichi Kulam to immerse the idols. Police officials said the Idols would be installed at private places.
Those who install idols in public places would face legal action, the department warned.
While the flower market is closed, the newly laid pavements on the DB Road, as part of the model road project, turned into a selling spot for Vinayaka idols makers.
Bright display of colourful Ganesha idols grabbed attention of many passers-by in the area.
Sellers on Friday said that their business was dull. "Usually, the day before Vinayaka Chaturthi, we sell at least 200 idols in R S Puram area. Our stocks are sold entirely by the end of the day. We have hardly sold 15 since morning," said a seller in Kavundampalayam.