Security in the State has been beefed up with the deployment of additional forces at sensitive places and market areas in view of Holi festival on Thursday. Moreover, DMs have directed the district excise officers of the respective districts to ensure that all liquor shops are closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
State DGP BS Sidhu said that the district police have been directed to deploy additional forces at sensitive, mixed population areas and other places to complete Holi festival glitch free in the State. The district police officers should identify the areas deemed sensitive from law and order standpoint and necessary action should be taken against those found guilty, he added.
Dehradun SSP Sadanand Date said that security has been stepped up with the deployment of additional forces around religious shrines and other important places in view of ‘Holika Dahan’ on March 23 and Holi festival on March 24. Several areas of the district have been divided into three zones and a zone has been divided into sectors. Circle officers have been made in-charges of the zones while inspector or police station made in-charges at the sectors.
Kotwali circle officer Manoj Kumar Kaptyal has been assigned with the police station areas of Kotwali, Premnagar, Cantt and Vasant Vihar while Dalanwala circle officer was assigned with police station areas of Rajpur, Mussoorie and Nehru Colony. Sadar circle officer has been assigned with police station of Patelnagar and Clement Town.
As during the Holi festival, people smear colour or throw colour among themselves possibilities of scuffles are high, particularly against the backdrop of the fact that some persons tend to take laws in their hands under the influence of liquors or drugs.
Several mobile parities comprising sub-inspectors and policemen have been formed at sector and zone levels and they have assigned with areas with the direction to be vigilant.
With the increasing cases of illegal trafficking of drugs and liquors occurring in the State, the police officers have been directed to conduct vehicle checking drivers in their districts apart from ensuring action against the defaulters, Kaptyal said. Police officers have been directed to act under Motor Vehicle (MV) Act regarding triple riding, over-speeding, rash driving, drunk driving and other traffic violations.
SP City Ajay Singh said that the chances of road accidents also increase because of the menace of drunk driving.
Notably, scuffles occur as some people pick woods from others’ homes without taking their permission to be used in the Holika bonfire. Some hurl abuse or sing obscene songs as part of Holi revelry. Tempers fray as some tend to pour colour on walls of religious places, throw mud on others and extort money in the name of Holi festival.
Additional policemen have been deployed in localities with mixed population and places where 'Holika Dahan' would be held on Wednesday night to prevent anti-social elements from disrupting festivities, Singh added.