Mumbai top cop asks pandals to ensure safety of women devotees

MUMBAI: Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh today said pandals organising Ganesh festival cannot escape the consequences if women devotees faced eve-teasing or molestation.

The top cop also said that if pandals failed to ensure safety of women devotees they might not be allowed to organise the event next year.

"It is the responsibility of the pandal organisers to ensure that female devotees, who would flock to take blessings of the Ganesha, should not be eve-teased or molested. If any incident like this occurs, it would go against pandal organisers," said Singh.

He was speaking at Bhaidas Hall in Vile Parle during a programme organised by city police to create awareness among the Ganesh festival organisers about the safety and security during the ten-day festival starting from Monday.

The programme was attended by Bollywood personalities Farhan Akhtar, Shipla Shetty, Sonu Nigam and Marathi actors Sachin Khedekar and Sachin Pilgaonkar and other police officials.

Praising efforts by police during the largely celebrated festival in the city, the actors appealed to the citizens and pandal organisers to be alert and inform police in case if they find any suspicious or unclaimed objects.

Over 6,000 Ganesh pandals are being erected in public places.