With a few hours left for Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat to unfurl the national flag on the Independence Day at Parade Ground for the first time, the district officers were found busy on Monday evening while giving the final shape to things and the police brass was engaged in ensuring fool-proof security for the occasion.
The district magistrate SA Murugesan and SSP Nivedita Kukreti inspected the Parade Ground on Monday and gave necessary instructions to the officers to complete preparations to make the flag-hoisting programme impressive.
After the DM and SSP left hectic activities were seen on the ground as the potholes were filled with sands and the ground which was slushy following rains was made smooth. The rostrums were made too with some senior officers monitoring things.
Kukreti said that general alert has been issued for the district with the police being put on high alert. All the security arrangements have been made to ensure a glitch-free Independence Day celebration across the district, she stated.
The DM ordered the district excise officers and the sub-divisional magistrates to ensure that all the liquor shops in the district were closed from August 14 evening to August 16 morning. He also warned that stringent action would be taken against those found violating the order.
SP City PK Rai said that security in the district has been tightened with deployment of forces at important places like markets, bus stands, railway stations and the like for ensuring peaceful Independence Day celebrations in the district. Vehicle checking drives are being conducted as part of security arrangement for the occasion. Police are keeping an eagle-eyed vigilance around Parade Ground area where the principal function would be held, he added.
By way of strengthening security, police station officers have been directed to conduct verification drives in hotels and other commercial establishments as well as residences in various localities to stop undesirable elements from staying in the city during the Independence Day celebration. Besides, barricades have been put up at various roads for conducting vehicle-checking drives across the city, a police officer said.