Although refusing to divulge the exact figure of forces deployed for security duty on the concluding day of the festival, Mahapatra said several companies of RAF, State Reserve Police Force, thousands of home guards and security personnel from railway police and other departments had been put on security duty in various parts of the city. He said that as many as 10 commandants from SRP and police institutes will also be deployed for security duty in Vadodara city. A senior official said security had been tightened this year as the immersion ceremony coincides with Friday, when Muslims offer congregational prayers in mosques. Mahapatra said the security personnel will hold a rehearsal of the operations on Thursday. ``Police is in full strength and can take care of any situation'', he said.

Mahapatra held a joint-meeting with influential leaders of the two communities in Ladwada mohalla and appealed them to ensure that the festival passed off peacefully. ``Response of the leaders was very good,'' he said, adding that ``everyone attending the meeting expressed full cooperation with the police.''