Heavy security deployed in Mumbai, neighbouring areas amid loudspeaker row

PTI

Mumbai, May 4

Heavy security was deployed at several places in Mumbai and adjoining cities on Wednesday, a day after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray urged people to play Hanuman Chalisa on loudspeakers wherever they hear loudspeakers ‘blaring azaan'.

The morning prayers were offered peacefully at many mosques, an official said.

All senior police officials, including Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey, were out to take stock of the security deployment, he said.

Police were also deployed outside mosques at some places.

There was nakabandi (blockade) at various locations and vehicles were being checked since the early hours to avoid any untoward incident, the official said.

As a precautionary measure, the city police have already issued more than 1,600 notices under various sections of the Criminal Procedure Code, including 149 (for preventing cognisable offences), to MNS workers and others.

The police had also conducted meetings with 'maulvis' and trustees of various mosques and asked them to follow the Supreme Court guidelines and rules related to noise pollution.

Heavy security was deployed at many places in neighbouring areas of Thane and Palghar districts.

There was elaborate police bandobast near the Jama Masjid in Mumbra township of Thane.

Some MNS workers had plans to play Hanuman Chalisa near there, but they left after the 'azaan' was not heard outside the religious premises.

Mumbra police station's senior inspector Ashok Kadlag said the situation was under control and there was no report of any untoward incident so far.

Bhiwandi Zone II Deputy Commissioner of Police Yogesh Chavan said the powerloom town in Thane was peaceful.

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