Black masks, handkerchiefs asked to be removed at Modi event in Pune

Many black masks were seen lying on security table alongside goggles, handkerchiefs and other random pieces of clothing of the same colour

PUNE: Security during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Pune was unprecedented as people attending his public meetings were asked to remove black masks in the light of protest call given by opposition parties.

The police at security checkpoints at public rallies of the prime minister in the city on Sunday were asking visitors to remove black masks, glasses, handkerchiefs, citing “protocol“. (Pratham Gokhale/HT Photo)

The police at security checkpoints at public rallies of the prime minister in the city on Sunday were asking visitors to remove black masks, glasses, handkerchiefs, citing “protocol“.

Many black masks were seen lying on security table alongside goggles, handkerchiefs and other random pieces of clothing of the same colour. Though there were reports of socks and shirts being asked to remove by the police, Purnima Gaikwad, deputy commissioner of police, Zone 3 of Pune police, rubbished the claims, saying “we did not ask anyone to take off clothes they had worn.”

A photojournalist covering the event held at MIT said, “They asked us to take off masks, and sunglasses which I used for eyesight. Some people were asked to give their handkerchief. As the event venue had to be reached on foot by walking around a kilometre, there was no way of going back in that sweltering heat to look for masks.”

“It went off very well. Depending on threat perception, time of movement, time of stay in one place, around 150 officials from my jurisdiction and some additional reinforcements were in place. No untoward incident was reported,” said DCP Gaikwad.