Security across the state has been tightened with the deployment of additional forces at market areas, temples and mixed population areas to maintain peace during Diwali festival slated on Thursday. In addition, intelligence staffers and fire service officials have been put on alert, said the state police brass.
A police officer based in Haridwar said that they are taking no chances as far as security during the festival is concerned. “We are all the more alert as the district has many mixed population pockets with records of communal sensitivity. We are launching vehicle checking drives at important places in the district to stop people from coming and fomenting trouble,” he said.
The picture is the same in Dehradun district. Here too, the intelligence and the fire service staffers have been put on alert. Additional forces have been deployed too, particularly at the sensitive places and those where the revellers throng in large number. Senior superintendent of police Nivedita Kukreti said that the vehicles coming into the city are being checked thoroughly to stop entry of unwanted elements. The fire service officers are on their toes too in view of the festivities often leading to fire-spawned accidents, she added.
Kukreti said that the police officers have been directed to intensify police patrolling at railway stations, platforms, railway tracks, bus stands and busy market areas in particular. Besides, cops in plain clothes have been deployed at jewellery shops and crowed places like markets.
She further said that the traders found selling firecrackers sans license would be booked. “We are alert across the city to stop firecrackers from being sold from areas not included in the list of those demarcated for selling them,” she said.
Policemen have been directed to ensure that the height of the decoration in the city areas should not exceed 14 feet so that the vehicles do not face any hindrance on the roads, she said.
Kukreti said that during the festival, complaints of gambling being reported, police officers have been directed to take necessary steps to stop such illegal activities under their jurisdictional areas.
Dehradun chief fire officer Shiv Prasad Mamgai said that the firemen have been put on alert. Besides, the fire station officers have drafted a plan to deploy fire tenders across the district to meet emergencies. In all, 1160 licenses for selling firecrackers have been released in the district with the direction to them to install fire safety equipments at their shops.
“In the city, fire tenders have been deployed at eight locations- Premnagar, Sahastradhara crossing, Clock Tower, Saharanpur, Dharampur, Shimla bypass, Kotwali, Premnagar and Dilaram Chowk. Two bike-borne fire- fighters are making rounds the city,” he added. He further said one can inform the fire service department on telephone numbers- 101-100 and 2716242.