Mangaluru/Udupi: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi police have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure peaceful and incident-free Ganeshotsava celebrations and idol immersions across the two coastal districts.
The police have deployed additional personnel, armed reserve forces, Home Guards and surveillance equipment while identifying sensitive locations, designated procession routes and immersion points. Authorities have also appealed to Ganeshotsava committees and the public to cooperate with the police and ensure that celebrations do not cause traffic disruptions or disturb communal harmony.
230 Ganesha idols to be installed in DK
According to Dakshina Kannada police, a total of 230 Ganesha idols will be installed within the district police jurisdictions.
Of these, 48 idols will be installed in Bantwal sub-division and 103 in Belthangady sub-division.
For maintaining security and law and order during the celebrations, the district police have deployed one Additional SP, four DySPs, seven PIs/CPIs, 34 PSIs, 52 ASIs and 520 police personnel across various police station limits.
The deployment will be strengthened with 150 Home Guards, five KSRP platoons and five DAR platoons.
The additional forces are intended to manage processions, idol installations and immersions, traffic movement and other law-and-order requirements during the festival.
Udupi identifies 74 sensitive locations
Udupi district has a considerably larger number of idol installations and immersions.
Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said 492 Ganesha idols will be installed and immersed at different locations across the district.
Of these locations, 415 have been classified as normal, 74 as sensitive and three as highly sensitive.
The idol immersion programme will be held between September 14 and 29.
As many as 211 idols will be immersed on September 14, followed by 108 on September 15, 114 on September 16, 13 on September 17 and 29 on September 18.
Four immersions are scheduled for September 19 and five on September 20. One immersion each has been scheduled for September 22, 23, 24 and 26, while two each are scheduled for September 25 and September 29.
Police have identified designated routes and immersion points within the jurisdiction of various police stations.
Surveillance will be strengthened particularly in sensitive and highly sensitive areas to prevent untoward incidents and ensure the smooth movement of processions.
Nearly 1,000 personnel deployed in Udupi
Udupi district police have deployed 996 personnel for law-and-order and traffic management during the celebrations.
The deployment includes three ASPs/DySPs, seven Circle Inspectors, 37 Police Sub-Inspectors, 83 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 680 Head Constables, Police Constables and Women Police Constables.
In addition, 20 District Armed Reserve personnel, three KSRP platoons and 163 Home Guards have been deployed.
The police will also use 12 public address systems and three drones as part of the security arrangements.
The additional surveillance and communication infrastructure is expected to help police monitor procession routes, manage crowds and respond quickly to any law-and-order situation.
22 peace committee meetings held
The Udupi district police have convened 22 peace committee meetings across the district as part of efforts to maintain communal harmony during the festival.
Police have also initiated preventive proceedings against individuals considered capable of disturbing law and order.
According to 2026 records, preventive proceedings have been initiated against 611 people, of whom 487 have been bound over.
The preventive measures are aimed at reducing the possibility of clashes, provocative activities and other incidents during Ganeshotsava processions and immersions.
Police issue guidelines to organisers
The Udupi district police have appealed to the public and Ganeshotsava committees to celebrate the festival peacefully and cooperate with police and other authorities.
Organisers have been instructed to conduct idol immersions only at designated locations and through prescribed routes.
Participants have also been asked to follow instructions issued by police and other officials and cooperate in ensuring that processions do not disrupt traffic.
The police have warned against provocative slogans, activities that could trigger disturbances and other unlawful acts.
The emphasis on designated routes and immersion points is also intended to minimise traffic congestion and ensure the safe movement of both processions and regular road users.
Liquor sale banned on key immersion dates
The Udupi district administration has also prohibited the sale of liquor on September 14, 16 and 18 in view of Ganeshotsava celebrations and idol immersions.
The restrictions have been imposed with the objective of maintaining peace, public order and law and order during the festival.
According to an order issued by the Deputy Commissioner, liquor sales will be completely prohibited across Udupi district from 6 am to midnight on September 14.
On September 16, the ban will remain in force in Udupi town from 2 pm to midnight.
On September 18, liquor sales will be prohibited from 2 pm to midnight in the jurisdictions of various police stations where Ganesh idol immersions are scheduled.
The restriction will also cover villages falling under the Gangolli, Kundapura Town and Kaup police station limits.
The Deputy Commissioner has directed liquor shops, bars and other licensed establishments not to sell liquor during the specified periods.
With hundreds of idol installations and immersions scheduled across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, police and district authorities have put in place extensive security and traffic-management measures. Officials have urged the public to cooperate with the arrangements and celebrate Ganeshotsava peacefully while respecting traffic and law-and-order guidelines.