Although the administration is making all efforts to ensure foolproof security during this Durga Puja, the organisers want to rely on their own security and crowd management system in order to avoid any untoward incident during this festive season. Top district officials, however, will visit the pandals on Monday to assess security arrangements being followed by the organisers.
“We have already briefed the organizers regarding the precautions taken by the organizers by holding a joint meeting with them and have also planned to visit each of the ‘Pandal’ personally to check whether those instructions are being followed or not,” said Ranchi DC Vinay Kumar Chuabey.
Deep search of pandals involving Special Branch of the police department as well as deployment of sniffer dogs will also be done involving Special Branch of the police department during the puja.
According to Chaubey, adequate security forces will be deployed during this festive season. “In order to ensure better reach to the masses some of the forces will be fielded among the crowd so that a close vigil could be kept on them,” added Chaubey. Tiger and Panther teams will also be deployed on the isolated places, he said.
Referring to the crowed management during the rush hours, Chaubey said that a blueprint has been prepared and the organisers have also been briefed in this regard. Besides that CCTV cameras will also be there keeping an eye on the antisocial elements to be monitored at a centralised location, he said.
Most of the organizers however, have developed their own security and crowd management systems rather than relying on the measures taken by the administration.
“We have to take care of our pandals ourselves as police will not present here all the time, thorough security check of our pandals are done by our volunteers at least twice day,” said president of Rajasthan Mitra Mandal Ahsok Purohit.
Since an eco-friendly pandal made of jute and wild dry fruits are being raised, extra precaution will be taken this time involving more and more fire safety instruments in and around the pandal, Purohit added.
Organisers like Bhartiya Yuvak Sangh and RR Sporting Club however, have now started using inflammable materials in raising pandals in order to avoid fire like situation.
“We have used inflammable material like fiber and steel in order to avoid fire like situation during the festival of joy,” said President of Bhartiya Yuvak Sangh Ashok Chaudhary.
The organizers are also of the view that nuisance is generally created on the streets outside the pandals by the bikers during the rush hour which needs to be taken care by the police. To maintain order during the puja, armed force of 1-4 is being deployed on the pandals with an extra deployment of force of unarmed policemen of 1-8 to some of the sensitive spots earlier identified in the city.
Policemen have also been asked to take extra precautions for preventing rumors to spread among the crowd. They have also been directed take their positions on time and not to leave the place before-time at any cost.