To review the preparation of Ardh Kumbh-2016 and strengthen coordination and cooperation with senior police officers from the neighbouring States - Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh - the State DGP BS Sidhu presided over eleventh inter-State and Inter-Agency Coordination Meeting at PHQ auditorium in Dehradun on Saturday.
The police officers shared intelligence inputs regarding terrorism, smuggling of drugs, information related to wanted criminals and absconders and smuggling and circulation of fake notes among others. The senior officers of ITBP, Intelligence Bureau, SSB and Railway Police Force also attended the meeting.
In course of the meeting, the police officers from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh shared their under- processed arrangements regarding Ardh Kumbha mela-2016 in their jurisdictional areas.
In his address, Sidhu laid stress on coordination, cooperation and confidence among the police offices of neighbouring States. lakhs of Kanwariyas keep coming to Haridwar to take holy dip in Ganga and also to fetch Ganga jal from the river since long and their number, especially that of the youths, is increasing each year.
"Keeping this in view, the police officers should identify sensitive areas, especially in the mixed population areas, along the routes Kanwariyas take and adequate security arrangements should be made there. The police officer should meet the members of several groups who organise community kitchen for Kanwariyas on Kanwaria routes in their jurisdictional areas.
The members should be directed to ensure that there should not be traffic jam due to community kitchen in the area. They should also be warned of action if they prop up the anti-social elements," he said.
"Kanwariyas will not be allowed to carry hockey stick, bamboo, sword, trident and other weapons on the routes. They must don helmets if they come on two-wheelers. Action would be taken for violation of rules," he added.
Kanwarias will not be allowed to reach tourist places- Mussoorie, Sahastradhara and Kempty Falls, he said. On the occasion, Haridwar police officer were informed about arrangements related to parking, making alternate routes, installation of CCTV cameras and barricading they have completed so far.
UP ADGP (law and order) Daljeet Singh Choudhary and IG (Meerut Zone) Alok Sharma said they had organised a meeting with their officers regarding Ardha Kumbh Mela arrangements and one more meeting would be held soon. The police officers of other States also shared their preparations related to Ardh Kumbh Mela.
On the occasion, the police officers shared information related to Maoists' movements as well as activities along borders with China and Nepal among others.
Also, the police officers discussed about deployment of police forces along Mela routes and Ganga. Police deployment to resolve traffic congestions, crowd management, intelligence gathering on anti-national activities and anti-social elements, identification of alternative routes, installation of equipments, prevention on smuggling of drugs from Tibet and Nepal borders, circulation of fake currency among others were among the matters that cropped up during the meeting.