Delhi Police strengthened security and paramilitary forces were deployed in Jahangirpuri on Tuesday to keep vigil during the shobha yatra taken out on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, officials said.
Police also said traffic flow was likely to be affected in several parts of the national capital on Tuesday in view of the Hanuman Jayanti celebration, police said, issuing advisories for route diversions near the Hanuman temples in Kashmere Gate and Connaught Place. Stringent security measures have been taken in view of the communal clashes that broke out during a Hanuman Jayanti procession in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri in 2022, a police officer said. The police have also intensified security arrangements across the national capital, particularly areas where shobha yatras will be taken out.
“A robust security plan has been made for the shobha yatra in Jahangirpuri and we are also trying to confine the procession to a limited area. Police force, along with paramilitary forces, will keep strict vigil,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Jitendra Meena said. Additional police force, riders and PCR vans will be deployed in front of temples of the area, Meena said.
The officer further warned of strict action against anyone breaching the law and order situation. “We have asked all the SHOs of Northwest district to stay on alert and to keep their sources on alert too. SHOs were directed to attend every distress call immediately and to monitor any such situation by visiting personally. We have also asked the fire department to stay on alert,” the DCP added.
A senior police officer said the Hanuman Jayanti shobha yatra in Jahangirpuri will be taken for only 200 metres. “We have discussed with organisers of the procession and they have accepted that they will take out their procession in only 200 metres,” the officer added.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Eastern range) Sagar Singh Kalsi, along with DCP (East) Apoorva Gupta, also visited different locations of East district to check the security arrangements for the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti.
On April 16, 2022, severe clashes broke out between two groups of people, belonging to different communities, during the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri. A total of 21 people were arrested from both the communities, while two juveniles were apprehended. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch was also formed to probe the whole incident under the leadership of five assistant commissioners of police and 10 inspectors.
As regards traffic, police advisory said thousands of devotees are expected to participate in the ‘Sunderkand Paath’ being organised by the Marghat Wale Baba Hanuman Mandir Samiti on the occasion at the temple in Kashmere Gate from 5 pm.
To ease vehicular movement during this event, the traffic will be diverted from the left turn towards Hanuman Mandir at Y-Point Salimgarh by-pass, under Hanuman Setu and Chatta Rail Chowk, the advisory said.
The commuters are advised to avoid the area where the programme will be held and avail public transport to help decongestion of roads, police said.
“Park your vehicles only at designated parking lots. Avoid roadside parking as it causes hindrance to normal flow traffic. In case any unusual or unidentified object or person is noticed in suspicious circumstances, information should be given to the police,” the advisory read.
