All the police district heads have been directed to be alert to prevent any untoward incidents during Holi.
Uttarakhand Director General of Police Satyavrat directed the SSPs to convene a meeting with officers and local Intelligence Unit staff and direct them to identify sensitive areas and deploy additional force there.
Satyavrat said that police officers were directed to act immediately on intelligence input. Holika Dahan sites need to be identified and force deployed there. The circle officers and police stations in-charge should be aware of past incidents at these sites. The police officers need to ensure that patrolling is intensified for peaceful conduct of this festival.
Dehradun Range Deputy Inspector General Amit Sinha directed Haridwar, Dehradun and Uttarkashi police to deploy force especially in mixed population areas. “Disputes can occur during Holika Dahan when people lift wood without permission; when people colour others forcefully, use vulgar words and gestures in song and dance, extort money from road users in the name of donations for celebrations or when they throw dirt and mud on others”, he said.
Sinha said that police officers have been directed to review past incidents and take action accordingly. If there has been dispute between two different communities in the past, Circle Officer and police station in-charge need to be aware and deploy adequate force. Officers should also be alert about anti-social elements to prevent untoward incidents.
Additional company of PAC jawans will be deployed in Haridwar and Dehradun during the festival, he said.