Proper planning, better execution ensured incident-free Thevar jayanthi

Madurai police's ground work ensured incident-free Guru puja of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar. Vehicular traffic flowed freely due to diversion of vehicles from Goripalayam junction. Motorbike riders were not allowed to prevent adventurous stunts. Police warned villagers and students of stringent action for violations. Checkposts set up on roads leading to city to stop troublemakers. Drum beats restricted outside junction. Separate entries for women and VIPs. 2,000 policemen deployed for peaceful event.

Guru puja of freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar passed off incident-free in Madurai city on Monday. The city did not see any major traffic congestion or unruly bike riders frightening the road users, thanks to the ground work by Madurai city police even beyond their boundaries days before the event.

Continuing with the past experience, all the roads leading to Goripalayam junction, where the tall bronze statue of the freedom fighter attracts thousands of people from far and near, were kept out of bounds for all vehicles, except for the four-wheelers carrying people who go there to pay respect to the leader. This diversion of other vehicles helped free flow of vehicular traffic in the city.

Similarly, among those who proceed to garland the statue, the motorbike riders were not allowed to the junction.

This was primarily done to prevent bikers from making adventurous stunts like wheeling and rash-riding around the statue.

“This year, we made it clear to groups of people coming to Goripalayam junction from adjoining villages of the city. Our police officers went to some 18 villages outside the city to sensitise them to the ban on motorbikes,” Commissioner of Police, J. Loganathan said. Along with local police officers, the city police warned them about stringent action for those who violate the regulation.

“When our officers explained to them about the trouble created by youngsters, the villagers understood and cooperated with us,” the Commissioner said.

With the bikers not allowed, half the problem was solved as their rash-riding could invite wordy quarrels with others on the road, he said.