Following the terror attack on pilgrims in Jammu & Kashmir, worried Gurugram police have gone on high alert. District police has initiated several steps to strengthen security arrangements for providing a smooth passage to kanwariyas (devotees of lord Shiva).
Drones, CCTV cameras, additional forces, Crime Investigation Department (CID), Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), local administration, traffic diversions, barricade tunnels, audio messages, metal detectors and sniffer dogs are some major security arrangements which are being used by the Gurugram Police to provide smooth passage to kanwariyas this year.
Commissioner of Gurugram Police Sandeep Khirwar, along with his men and officers, will hit the road to oversee arrangements and help the kanwariyas during emergencies. DCP (traffic) Simardeep Singh will be the supervisory officer of all the security arrangements for kanwariyas in the entire district.
According to information received from police, around 1,000 additional personnel, including traffic police, home guards, traffic marshals, road safety officers (RSO), police riders, Municipal Corporation volunteers and Red Cross volunteers have been deployed at various points on the expressway, highways and other major roads like MG Road and Sohna road.
Also, CCTV camera, micro phones are in place along the kanwariyas’ routes and camps to examine all kinds of activities. PCR, Ambulance, Crain’s and water canon will be deploying at the major junction for any emergencies.
Sources said that for the first time the administration has decided to use drones to keep an eye on pilgrims as well as a smooth flow of traffic. The number of drones to be deployed is yet to be decided.
Furthermore, in a crowded place, people will be checked via metal detector and for the search operation, sniffer dogs will also be available.
Apart from this, DCPs of all three zones — East, West and South — and their respective teams will review security arrangements along national and State highways during the period to maintain a tight vigil on all major roads to avert any unwanted incident involving kanwariyas.
Further, police have identified around 25 stretches and points where police teams will be deployed with walkie-talkie sets, sticks can shield, helmets, body protectors and other necessary equipment to avoid any untoward incidents. Traffic will also be diverted as per the situation and diversion boards will also be put on the roads to avoid any confusion among the commuters.
The police department has also conveyed to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) bosses that the Kanwariya camps should be put up at some 100 metres away from the National Highway and 50 metres from the State highways.
“We have given strict instruction to our police teams that no negligence would be acceptable during the duty hours. The teams who will be deployed on the national and State highway work in two shifts and no policemen will use additives substance during the job hours,” Additional Director General of Police (law & Order), Muhammad Akil, said.
“The police department also coordinates with the adjoining States and also touch with other agencies like CID, IB, CIA and local administration so that a safe atmosphere could be provided for the kanwariyas,” the ADGP added.
“We will put all our efforts to give full protection and help to the pilgrims during their yatra. Will also provide safety measures audio messages in Kanwariya camps,” Commissioner of Gurugram police Sandeep Khirwar, said.