1 hr ago
Mumbai Mounted Police Shift From Ceremonial To Ganeshotsav Duty
Mumbai’s police have a group of horses that can help officers manage crowds.
The horses will be used during Ganeshotsav, when many people gather for idol immersions.
They will patrol beaches and other places where cars cannot easily go.
The 22 horses will work in shifts at different immersion points.
The horses have trained for almost six months.
The police also practiced at Juhu beach in May.
The government approved more jobs and money to support the unit.
The unit has had problems before, including horse illnesses and expensive care.
Mumbai’s mounted police unit will deploy 22 horses at beach immersion points during Ganeshotsav.
The horses will work rotationally where crowds and sand prevent vehicles from entering.
The unit, restarted in 2024, has undergone nearly six months of training, including a Juhu beach session in May.
The Maharashtra government approved 70 new horse-rider posts and Rs 1.27 crore in funding for the unit.
The unit was disbanded in 1932 and again in 2022 after horse health problems and high maintenance costs.
- Who
- Mumbai Police’s mounted unit and its 22 horses.
- What
- The unit will perform operational crowd-control and patrol duties during Ganeshotsav, alongside its ceremonial activities.
- Where
- At beach immersion points around Mumbai, as well as areas such as forests and steep climbs; the unit is based in Marol, Andheri East.
- When
- During this year’s Ganeshotsav; the unit was restarted in 2024, with training conducted over nearly six months.
- Why
- To help police manage crowds and reach locations where vehicles cannot enter.
Operational expansion
Operational concerns
Using horses for crowd control
Operational expansion
Police say the trained horses can help manage crowds and patrol beaches or difficult terrain where vehicles cannot enter.
Operational concerns
The unit’s earlier operational use was limited, and officials acknowledged that maintaining healthy horses has been difficult and costly.
Building a permanent cadre
Operational expansion
The government-approved 70-post cadre is intended to provide personnel with horse-handling experience and avoid repeatedly retraining transferred officers.
Operational concerns
Police previously faced disruption when officers working with the unit were transferred under service rules, requiring training to start again.
Key facts
- Mounted unit size
- 22 horses
- Government-approved posts
- 70 new sportsperson horse-rider cadre posts
- Approved funding
- Rs 1.27 crore
- Training
- Nearly six months, including a session at Juhu beach in May
- Base
- A permanent 2.96-acre stable in Marol, Andheri East
- History
- Disbanded in 1932, revived in 2020, disbanded in 2022, and restarted in 2024
- Previous losses
- Five of the 13 horses introduced during the earlier revival died from health issues
Quotes
A Mumbai Police official
Police official discussing the unit’s readiness and deployment arrangements for Ganesh festival immersion points
“Earlier this month, based on our proposal, the Maharashtra government approved the creation of 70 new posts in the sportsperson horse-rider cadre for the Mounted Police Unit. These personnel would be chosen from the sports category, those formerly in the Armed Forces and others who have worked with horses before.”
indianexpress.com
“Now we are confident the horses are equipped to be used for crowd control and related purposes during the Ganesh festival. We have passed on instructions to police stations that have these immersion points under their jurisdictions to keep space on the beach where horses can be kept.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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