Following terrorist attacks on the Air Force base in Pathankot on Saturday, security in the district has been beefed up in view of the Ardh Kumbh Mela. There would be vigilance at every spot of the sprawling Mela zone, say Mela officials.
Security of the pilgrims is a big challenge for the district administration and with the increasing terrorist activities across the world and the recent terrorist attacks on the Air Force base in Pathankot which is home to a large fleet of MIG -21 and MIG 25 fighter planes, a high alert has been sounded in the entire Haridwar district.
For the first time, drone camera would be used to keep vigilance from the sky over the mela zone. Speaking to The Pioneer, IG kumbh Mela G S Martolia said, “The Kumbh mela area is flanked on three sides by forest and on two sides by the state borders. Keeping this in view and the recent terrorist attacks in Pathankot we have sounded a high alert in the entire district. We would be using drone vigilance system this time. Also Anti Terrorism Squads (ATS), specially trained Dog Squads, Network Jammers are being deployed for the first time to counter any terrorist threats.”
Notably to strengthen the ATS, 30X Rifles, 20 corner Shotguns, 15 Sniffer Rifles, 100 pistols, 50 hand grenades and 50 bullet proof jackets have been acquired from Australia by the Ardh Kumbh mela police worth 2.5 crores.
“Even if we deploy heavy police force, every nook and corner of the mela zone cannot be covered up during heavy crowd movement; so drone camera is being used which would be engaged in vigilance for three days during the snan days, added Martolia. Also a network of close circuit cameras is established from the border areas of the district to the mela zone. “Highly sensitive cameras with face and number plate recognition are installed for any suspicious persons entering the district,” told Martolia to The Pioneer.