Elaborate security arrangements are set in place in the metropolis for Dussehra celebrations in wake of intelligence inputs that terrorists might strike to disrupt the festive season in the country, police said today.         

Mumbai police are trying to ensure peaceful celebrations during the festival and have beefed up security, particularly in and around vital installations. Joint Police Commissioner (Law and order) Sadanand Date said about 14,500 police personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful procession of Goddess Durga idols.         

The immersion of thousands of Durga idols would be done in the city on Wednesday and on Thursday. As many as 2,000 home guards, two companies of Rapid Action Force and seven companies of State Reserve Police Force would also assist the city police in maintaining law and order, police said.         

Central Home Ministry has directed all state governments to deploy additional security forces in crowded and sensitive places, including markets, religious places, railway stations and bus terminals, which could be targets of militants, police said. There have been intelligence reports that some HuJI militants had sneaked into India through India-Bangladesh border recently to create disturbance during the festival season, sources said.