Mumbai, 5 April

Over 13,500 policemen have been deployed in Mumbai to maintain law and order during Ram Navami celebrations. Ram Navami will be celebrated on 6 April. The festival falls on the ninth day (navami) of the lunar cycle of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu calendar.

The increased deployment in the metropolis has been done in view of some recent communal incidents, including the clash in Nagpur on 17 March, and the possibility of a large number of processions being taken out on that day.

Officials say all efforts are being made to ensure that no untoward incident takes place on Ram Navami. "This includes 11,000 constables, 2,500 officers, 51 assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) and 20 deputy commissioners of police (DCPs)," they said. Apart from other special units, nine State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) contingents will also be deployed on the streets of Mumbai.