Onus on organisers to keep the peace
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The city police has chosen to involve organisers of Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations never like before and entrusted them with crowd regulation, frisking and verification of priest’s credentials to ensure incident-free festivities this year.
The 12-point guidelines issued by the police include formation of idol protection committees by the organisers of at least 20 members, with at least two keeping an eye on the idols at any point of time.
City police personnelwould assist the volunteers, all of whom are to be issued identity cards, in protecting the idols, according to the guidelines.
The organisers would also be responsible for frisking people and regulating the crowds as well as preventing anti-social elements from creating trouble.
The city police has banned erection of thatched sheds around and over the idol, in line with a Madras high court order.
The guidelines also mandate that idols should be made only with raw clay and non-toxic materials.
The organisers have also been instructed to ensure that the idols are less than 10 feet tall and that they do not hinder traffic and pedestrian movement in any way.
The police department, which has permitted idols to be installed only in select places, has urged organisers to minimise the number of idols for security reasons.
No idol is to be installed near places where people gather in large number or in areas that are dominated by people of other religions.
The police said that devotees should immerse the idols only at designated places, including Thiruvotriyur, Ennore, Kasimedu, Foreshore Estate and Palavakkam, adding that no immersion will be allowed at Marina.
Those who accompany the idols to the five designated immersion points should not venture into the sea and should allow the immersion to be handled by those exclusively assigned for that job.
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