Durga Puja under shadow of Ak-47, INSAS rifles

Varanasi, Sep 19 (UNI) With the terror threat looming large on the coming festivities, Durga Puja in this holy city often termed as ''Mini Bengal'', will be celebrated under the close watch of heavily armed special security squads of district police.

This holy city figures prominently on the terror motives of the anti-national forces, especially during the Durga Puja celebrations, which not only attracts revellers from the district and adjoining areas, but also devouts from West Bengal, Senior Police Superintendent Ashutosh Pandey told UNI here today.

To prevent terrorist violence during the Puja celebrations in Varanasi, the district police has been put on alert and special security squads in the form of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) formed to prevent any misadventure in and around the Puja pandals, especially the 20 highly sensitive ones, he added.

The QRTs will be equipped with sophisticated weaponry including AK-47 and INSAS rifles. Besides, the bomb detection and disposal squad along with sniffer dogs will also be on patrol through out the celebrations, he said.

Fire tenders will also be pressed into round the clock service and hand held metal detectors and DFMD will be put into operation at sensitive and big pandals, the SSP maintained.

The district police have also requested the government to provide an RAF company including their women personnel and two PAC companies. The flood relief unit of PAC has also been sought to ensure peaceful immersion of the Durga idols in the Ganga river here.

Two special squads including women police constables have also been constituted to take care of eve teasers in the motley crowd of pandal hoppers, Mr Pandey said.

The SSP further said that special teams of state electricity department have been formed to routinely check the lighting and other electricity arrangements in the pandals for ensuring no short circuits or related accidents.

As many as 174 idols will be installed by various clubs in the city, while 60 Durga idols will find their way in puja pandals located in rural belt of the district, he added.

UNI ARS SB YA DS1343