NASHIK: The
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) will form its own security squad, members of which will move around in civil dress to catch pickpockets, chain snatchers, cellphone lifters and fake agents in and around the temple premises.
"Strict surveillance by policemen and trust volunteers has not been enough to stop pickpockets at the temple premises.
Recently, we came across cases where foreign devotees were looted of cash by pickpockets. As this is a serious matter, the trust executive governing body has decided to form a special squad. Young members of this squad, trained by the police in surveillance and monitoring will assist them in keeping vigilance," trustee Sachin Tambe said.
Inspector Pratap
Ingle will conduct the training sessions for the youths before they start work on October 1.
"The special squad in civil dress will be deployed at the temple, Dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Maruti temple, Mukhadarshan Hall, PRO office, Prasadalaya, and between the darshan queues. They will coordinate between visitors, villagers and policemen," Ingle said.
Since a few months, cases of mobile thefts, chain snatching, bag-lifting and pickpocketing are on the rise at Shirdi. The temple is gearing up for the 100th year of Saibaba's death anniversary.
After warning devotees about the online frauds and fake agents, the Shirdi
Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST), on Friday, has decided to form its own squad of security guards to stop menace of pickpockets in and around the Shirdi temple. These guards will roam around the Shirdi temple in civil dress and keep check on the pickpockets, chain-snatchers, cellphone-lifters and fake agents who claim to manage 'early darshan' to devotees.
"Strict surveillance by policemen and trust volunteers was not enough to stop pickpockets in the Saibaba temple premises. Recently, we came across some cases in which devotees from foreign countries were relieved of cash and cards by pickpockets. Considering this as a serious matter, the trust executive governing body decided to form a special squad. Trained by police in surveillance and monitoring, young members of this squad will assist the policemen in keeping vigilance in temple premsies," said Sachin Tambe, trustee, who took initiative in forming this squad. Police Inspector Pratap Ingle will personally conduct training sessions of these youths before they start working from October 1 onwards.
"The members of special squad will be deployed at temple, dwarkamai, Gurusthan, Maruti temple, Mukhadarshan Hall, PRO office, Prasadalaya, and in the middle of the Darshan queues. They will be in civil dress and could speak three-four languages including English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujrati. These youths will coordinate between visitors, villagers and policemen," said PI Ingle. Policemen in civil dress will also be included in this squad.
Cases of mobile thefts, chain snatchings, bag-lifting and pickpocketing are on rise at Shirdi from last few months. Most of the cases go unreported as devotees do not register FIR with police. Temple is gearing up for the celebration of 100th year of Saibaba's death anniversary. As number of visitors will increase in coming year, the trust has come up with its own arrangement to ensure security of devotees.