Pune: Police Bans Drone Shooting On Palkhi Route Fearing Commotion

Mubarak Ansari

Pimpri Chinchwad, 17th June 2022: The annual Palkhi of Sant Tukaram Maharaj from Dehu will start on 20th June and Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi from Alandi on 21st June. Palkhi Yatra 2022 (Pandharpur Wari) will end at Pandharpur on Ashadi Ekadashi.

Against the backdrop of the large gathering of devotees especially from the rural areas of Maharashtra, Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Ankush Shinde has prohibited shooting with drones and drone-like cameras on the Palkhi route and surrounding areas. The prohibitory order will be in force from June 17 to 22.

“Drones and drone-like cameras are being banned from shooting. During the departure ceremony of Jagadguru Sant Shri Tukaram Maharaj and Santshrestha Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi, millions of devotees gather at Alandi and Dehugaon temples. The devotees who come for Ashadi Wari are mostly from rural areas and do not know about drone cameras. Therefore, if the sudden shooting was done by a drone, there is a possibility of rumours leading to commotion”, states a press release from Pimpri Chinchwad police.

Similarly, vendors selling flowers, fruit and toys will not be allowed on the route. “People with criminal tendencies take advantage of the crowd. Therefore, the question of law and order may arise. Hence, for security reasons vendors on either side of the palanquin route will not be allowed”, the release further stated.

Legal action will be taken against those violating the prohibitory order in the Pimpri Chinchwad police commissionerate, states the press release issued by Senior Police Inspector Raosaheb Jadhav, who is the public relations officer (PRO), Pimpri Chinchwad Police.