Pulling up its socks, Ranchi police have made proper security arrangements in order to avoid any untoward incident during this Chhath Puja in the State capital. They have also been put on regular alert in view of the inputs given by the intelligence agencies that the Maoists may target the Chhath Ghats during the festive occasion.
“We visited the Chhath Ghats across the city and the both the DC and the SSP have briefed the organizers and the officials deputed there regarding the security measures taken during the peak hours on Wednesday evening an Thursday morning,” said SP City Anoop Birthare.
According to Birthare, available force with the district police will be deployed at all the vulnerable spots. Women constables will also be deployed at almost all the spots to check the incidents of eve-teasing or similar activities. Special care is being taken so that the traffic movement does not get disturbed during the peak hours and traffic constables will be deployed at all crowded ghats be it the Bada Talab, Button Talab, Kanke Dam or Hatania Talab.
“Entry of heavy vehicles into the city will be banned from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday afternoon so that the devotees do not have to face problems due to the movement of heavy vehicles,” he said.
When asked about the intelligence alert that the CPI (Maoits) might target the Chhath Ghats, Birthare said that they do not have any such information but adequate steps were being taken in that direction also.
“A regular alert has been raised in the police department. What could be done is definitely being done by us,” he said. Apart from deployment of security personnel teams of disaster management group will also be on alert keeping in mind the huge rush of people near water bodies, said an official.
Chhath Puja is celebrated with fervour pulling up a huge crowd towards Chhath Ghats across the City which is generally managed by the social bodies also supported by the district administration. Preparations for the occasion both by the social organizations as well as the district administration is at its peak these days who are trying not to let a single stone unturned to make it peaceful and hence are taking steps accordingly.