As devotees started reaching Haridwar on Sunday evening to participate in the Somwati Amawasya snan slated to begin from midnight, police claimed to have made elaborate security and traffic arrangements. Haridwar senior superintendent of police Krishan Kumar VK briefed the police officers and gave them necessary instructions to complete the snan peacefully.
Security has been stepped up with the deployment of additional forces in view of the Somwati Amawasya snan, he said, adding, two Additional SPs, 12 DSPs, 32 inspectors, 125 sub-inspectors, 14 women sub-inspectors, 68 head constables, 482 constables, 141 women constables, three traffic inspectors, 19 traffic head constables, 56 traffic constables, 14 intelligence staff members, two dog squads and bomb disposal squads, two mounted police squads, two water police teams, PAC Jawans and fire service personnel have been deputed at various places to complete snan successfully in the district.
Elaborate traffic arrangements have been made and people have been advised to follow the designated routes to face minimum inconvenience while going to their respective destinations, he added. The SSP said that Haridwar SP City Mamta Vohra has been made in-charge of the entire Mela area and she has been assigned the task of maintaining law and order in the area.
Besides, she would also oversee the traffic arrangements, the SSP said. Meanwhile, the Mela area has been divided into 14 zones and 38 sectors. Deputy SP has been made in-charge of the zones while the police stations in-charge, inspectors, senior sub-inspectors and sub-inspectors have been made in-charge of sectors.
A bomb disposal squad has been directed to conduct checking drives regularly to prevent any explosive incident on the occasion. Mounted police have been deployed too to maintain peace in the areas which are likely to see crowds. Water police have been appointed at various ghats to save people from drowning in the Ganga while taking the ritualistic holy dip. A special squad has been formed to stop beggars from begging in the mela area. A lost-found cell has been set up at city control room to ensure that the missing persons are reunited with their near ones, SSP said, adding that the circle officer (City) and Kotwali inspector have been directed to launch drive for freeing the places in the mela premises from encroachment and for removing beggars in their jurisdictional limits. SSP stressed on maintaining communal harmony while asking the police station officers and the circle officers to conduct joint patrolling in the communally vulnerable areas.
He cautioned the police officers to be alert for any kind of rumour mongering that might result in stampede like situations.