Maratha quota: Cops remain on high alert amid protest

The Mumbai and Navi Mumbai police be it the officers or constables over the past two days have been on near continuous duty first for the day 1 Ganpati immersion on Thursday and then for the Maratha Morcha on FridayJoint Commissioner of Police Law and Order Satyanarayan Chaudhary File PicIn Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police law and order Satyanarayan Chaudhary informed midday that over 1000 policemen mdash including reserve forces from the Quick Response Team State Reserve Police Force and city police along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and combat teams mdash were on ground duty Additionally 300 police officers oversaw operations to ensure no untoward incidents occurred and crowd management was carried out effectivelyNavi Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay YenpureIn Navi Mumbai Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Yenpure told midday ldquoA total of 52 officers 465 policemen and 200 traffic personnel were deployed Between 9 am on Thursday and Friday morning approximately 9981 fourwheelers 797 twowheelers and over 53000 protestors entered Mumbai via Navi MumbairdquoHowever as crowds swelled traffic congestion worsened prompting the police to divert heavy vehicles from Kalamboli and advise protestors to use local trains insteadWhen asked about any untoward incidents Jt CP Yenpure responded in the negative stating ldquoThe protestors were disciplined and their leadership led by Manoj Jagrange maintained control over them As the protestors passed through the Navi Mumbai police jurisdiction adequate police barricades were deployed to ensure smooth passage We were fully prepared to handle the large public gatherings heading towards Mumbai and ensured they were allowed to use the predecided routesrdquoNo heavy vehiclesPolice SubInspector Hanumant Galande attached to the Kalamboli Traffic Division was on duty from 6 am on Friday along with his team ldquoWe were directed to ensure that no heavy trucks trailers or lorries were allowed to head towards the Vashi direction All such vehicles were diverted from Kalamboli towards Shilphata Road and Mumbra for onward journeysrdquoPSI Hanumant Galande R manages movements of vehicles in Navi Mumbai PicVinod Kumar MenonWhen asked if trucks carrying fruits and vegetables to the Agricultural Produce Market Committee APMC were also restricted the officer replied in the negative stating ldquoAll essential commodities including oxygen cylinderladen trucks for hospital emergency services petroldiesel tankers and milk tankers mdash classified under essential services mdash are allowed to use the regular Panvel highway to reach their respective destinationsrdquoBig brother watchingSenior Police Inspector Satish Kadam and Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Shinde were both closely monitoring the main police control room at Navi Mumbai Police Headquarters in CBD BelapurSenior PI Satish Kadam and API Nitin Shinde supervise protests from the control room PicVinod Kumar MenonKadam said ldquoWe had to be extra vigilant closely monitoring traffic movements and issuing directions from our superiors We also kept an eye on news channels to stay updated Thankfully everything went smoothlyrdquo