Carnival floats this year will not only be scrutinized for obscenity, political content and liquor promotion, but for explosives too. The men in khaki will join the team inspecting the decorated tableaux with a fine tooth comb looking for hidden explosives. No float will be allowed to roll out at any carnival parade without a green signal from the cops. After a terror free Christmas and New Year, Goa’s cops are bracing themselves to ensure that yet another event passes off peacefully.
“Every float will be checked by the police. No floats will be allowed to participate in the parade without a security check and clearance from the cops,” police sources told TOI.
Stressing on security, the traffic police are also insisting that the parade route in Panaji be changed to 18th June Road, rather than the Dayanand Bandodkar Road. “In case of any eventuality, D B Road has to be kept open for easy movement of traffic. Even during the international film festival D B Road is not closed,” said sources in the traffic department. The police have also stressed on the need of identity cards to volunteers at Panaji, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco parades and at other events all over the state. “Details of every participant taking part in the floats will also be sought,” sources added.
One aspect that the police is looking into is the masked clowns that roam the streets during the parades. “We don’t know what to do about this. It might take away the fun from the festival, if we don’t allow masks,” an official said.
Meanwhile, Goa police has asked for separate meetings with all four carnival committees in the state. When contacted by TOI, inspector general of police Kishen Kumar did not specify any of the measures taken, but said, “We’re reviewing the situation.”
