An impressive flag march by 200 police jawans and officials was conducted in the municipal corporation and non municipal corporation areas of Daltonganj in view of the counting of votes on Monday.
The flag march with jawans wearing helmets, carrying body shields and batons in hands walked down in a single column. Armed jawans in full battle gears were in various vehicles like buses and PCR vans. It was followed by anti riot vehicles and water canon vehicles.
The flag march was kicked off by SDPO Sadar Sandip K Gupta, inspector Deepak Kumar and officer in charge of Town police station Anand Kumar Mishra and others from the Daltonganj police line. The march of the cops had many lady cops too which sent out a message to women here.
Sources said this flag march was very different and distinct as in the past the flag march used to look like ordinary walk on the road.
The officers had their service revolver around their waist. Men and machines were thus out in the streets which the onlookers saw.
A peanut seller near Sahitya Samaj chowk Ramawtar said “Such a presence of forces in Daltonganj means all will be well here on the day of counting.”
Sources said the election has generated more heat here in this biting winter than one had expected.
SP Palamu Ajay Linda said police have done
elaborate arrangements for peaceful counting here. Linda said, “People should also cooperate.”
Linda said a rehearsal of security drill has been conducted at the counting centres located on NH 75.
Sources said the flag march taken out on Sunday has served police its forthcoming issue where in Muslims are said to be toying with the idea to take out a rally against NRC and CAA here on December 26.
Gupta, Deepak and Mishra held parleys with selected Muslims of the town at Town police station over a proposed rally on December 26. “Police have told the Muslim community that a rally against NCR and CAA under democratic ambit is no problem but the organizers of it would have to give an undertaking that there would be no lawlessness on account of this rally and if anything goes wrong then the onus will be on the organizers of the rally who will be bound to face rigour of law.”
Police would take down their names, addresses along with their cell phone numbers.
Gupta said that members of the Muslims have sought time to take a call on the rally.
SDPO said this restriction is applied equally to those people of other communities contemplating to hold a rally in favour of NCR and CAA.
SDPO added, “Police are committed to keep peace and social harmony intact no matter the rally is for or against anything.”
Gupta said the flag march would get in vehicle mode for a massive patrolling in the semi urban areas like Redma, GLA college, Chainpur etc.
Sources said most of the jawans came back to Daltonganj only last night by buses from Dumka region. Sources said police head quarter has sent in three additional companies of security forces here in Palamu for the day of counting and for a few more days.