Security has been tightened at Parade Ground, Dehradun, where Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat would hoist the National
Flag on Saturday to mark Independence Day. This aside, elaborate security arrangements have been made along the areas bordering Nepal and China as well as the inter-state borders involving Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to ensure a glitch-free Independence Day across the State, said State director general of police BS Sidhu on Friday.
An order has been issued for the district police heads to deploy additional forces at sensitive areas and direct the police station officers to intensify patrolling in their assigned areas, he added.
The State’s top cop said that there has been a general alert sounded by the Central Government agency — Intelligence Bureau (IB) — regarding possible attack by anti-national elements during Independence Day celebrations in the state.
“We are thus leaving
nothing to chance. The district police officers have been
directed to step up security by deploying additional forces at crowded places, market areas and important Government institutions in their districts. An order has been issued to come down heavily on those who might try to disturb the celebrations,” Sidhu added.
He further said that an instruction has also been issued to the police officers to beef up the security across the state with the deployment of intelligence sleuths and civil police, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel, dog squads and bomb squads at important Government buildings and other sensitive places and, particularly, the venues where the tri-colours would be hoisted.
Dehradun senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pushpak Jyoti said that security in the district has been tightened and police are keeping an eagle-eyed vigilance at and around Parade Ground where the principal function would be held to mark the day.
Three deputy SPs, half a dozen inspectors, dozens of police station officers, women sub-inspectors and hundreds of armed constables have been deputed at Parade Ground.
Barricading and barriers have been put up too. Visitors will be frisked at three places before they are allowed to enter the ground. Elaborate traffic arrangements have been made too to facilitate the movement of the VIPs, invitees and general people to reach the places where functions would be held and also to ensure smooth traffic flow throughout the day. “We have issued traffic advisory, asking people to avoid roads leading to Parade Ground in the morning hours on Saturday, as it would remain closed for vehicles,” he added.