The Ranchi District Administration has made special arrangement in the State Capital to ensure peaceful Holi festival beginning on Monday.
The additional security measures are required because the State Capital is sensitive to violence and hooliganism during the festival of colors. Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anish Gupta and Sub Divisional Magistrate Lokesh Mishra have reviewed security scenario and issued a joint order for maintaining vigilance to ensure peaceful celebrations like last year.
“Holi is a festival of enthusiasm and color but people should not force others into celebrations especially women who are often subject to vulgar comments and violence. The police officers have been instructed to keep an open eye and check on hooligans who try to disturb the atmosphere during the festival,” said Gupta.
According to the joint order the administration has focused on preventive measures and has asked police stations to keep an open eye on rumor mongers and elements which might fuel communal tension. The police station have been asked to religiously hold meeting with local peace committees involving Hindu Muslims, Police Team and Local people representatives requesting them to ensure peaceful Holi.
SSP Gupta said that every citizen should use social media wisely. “Strict action will be taken on posting objectionable. It is being monitored in various groups of social media. If objectionable posts are being circulated, inform the police-administration immediately,” he added.
The SSP appealed to the people that they should avoid rumors and report it to the competent person. Strict action will be taken if any person or group takes the law in hand, he added. The officials have been asked to identify the places which have a history of violence during Holika Dahan and deploy police forces at all those places when the pyre is lit at night because in some places untoward incident have taken in the past.
The police stations have been asked to gather intelligence inputs of sensitive places where incident of violence took place in the past. The police men have been asked to patrol extensively throughout the two days across the district including residential areas.
A large numbers of home guards will also be deployed across the City to help the State Police. A composite control room will completely coordinate with the police stations, magistrates to monitor deployment and patrol.
The Ranchi District Police instructed that the important roundabouts in the City and sensitive places have one anti-riot vehicle. Several fire tenders would be kept standby at the district control room for emergency services. The Civil surgeon have been asked to keep his team alert. A special arrangement would be made at the district control room also for the medical emergency. Prompt action will be taken against culprit if any complaint is made against them.