Pune: Permission of police a must to install flex boards

PUNE: Installation of flex boards without prior permission from the Shikrapur and Loni Kand police stations would not be allowed during the 202nd anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima, which falls on January 1, 2020.
The move of the Pune rural police is a preventive measure to maintain peace, law and order in and around Perne village. Many people are expected to visit the Koregaon Bhima victory tower there to pay tributes on January 1next year.
Koregaon Bhima had witnessed caste clashes on January 1, 2018, during the 200th anniversary event.
Superintendent of police (Pune rural) Sandip Patil told TOI, “We are not banning flex boards, but people installing such boards should take prior permission from the police stations. An objectionable flex board may incite feeling of people
and cause trouble. To avoid this, we have held several meetings with flex board printers. They have been told not to create any objectionable content on flex boards. If someone insists to do something illegal, the printers have been told to approach police.”
The police and the district administration held meetings with villagers to take them into confidence to avoid any untoward incidents, said Patil.
“A section of people and local political workers are of the view that a total ban on flex boards will send wrong message among the visitors. As a result, we have put forth certain restrictions, which people must adhere to next few days. Our first and foremost priority is to assist visitors and create conducive environment for them,” said Patil.
All routes leading to Perne village, including Pune-Ahmednagar highway, would be sanitised by the local police stations.
“Police station patrolling teams will visit nearby villages at regular interval. We have asked ‘police friends’ also to provide inputs if they come across any suspicious activities,” said a senior officer from the crime branch of the rural police.