Police registered 10 cases against Ganapati mandals for using laser beam lights

PUNE: The Pune city police have banned the use of laser beam lights during the Ganapati festival in the city. However, many Ganapati mandals defied the orders and were found using laser beam lights in their pandals. In the last two days, the Pune city police have registered 10 cases against the mandals for using these lights.

Police registered four cases against mandals in the Lonikand area, five in the Hadapsar area, and one in the Sahakarnagar area.

"We have seized the laser beam machines from these mandals to prevent further use. We have also issued warnings to these mandals, asking them to refrain from using such lights," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) G. Shreedhar.

In August this year, Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar announced a ban on the use of laser beams during the Ganapati festival in the city, following incidents of eye injuries caused by these lights in previous years.

Two days ago in Kolhapur, two people, including an on-duty police constable, suffered eye injuries due to laser beams used by different Ganapati mandals during their processions. Besides the constable, the other victim was a youth waiting for the procession to pass by.

Last year, a youngster from Dhayari in Pune sustained eye injuries due to laser beam lights during the Ganapati immersion procession.

Kumar and other senior police officers held several rounds of meetings with the office bearers of the Ganapati mandals, asking them to refrain from using laser beam lights. Following these meetings, Kumar issued written directives on the matter.