Para-military forces to assist state police in festive season

Agartala, Sep 26 (UNI) Para-military forces will assist the Tripura police in maintaining law and order during the Durga Puja festival, said Superintendent of Police G S Rao.

Briefing newspersons here today on the steps taken by the state police to maintain law and order in the state, Mr Rao of West District said the Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to intensify border patrollings to prevent entry of anti-social elements.

''They have also been requested to provide security blanket during the pujas in the border areas,'' Mr Rao stated.

He said the Assam Rifles (AR), the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with Tripura State Rifles (TSR) have also been requested to be alert to prevent any untoward incident.

''In the interior areas, special operations are being carried out by TSR, CRPF and AR. The puja celebration in the interior areas will be given protection by the said operational forces,'' the West District SP said.

Security measures have been beefed up in the capital too. The entire city has been brought under the security cover. Many watch towers and police assistance booths have been set up to maintain vigil. 75 women police personnel had been pressed into service. All the puja organisers have been instructed to keep volunteers to assist the police parties on duty.

Intensive anti-liquor raids have been conducted in the entire state. 183 intoxicated persons has been arrested in the last few days. 325 bottles of foreign liquor and 4000 bottles of Phensidyl have been seized in the entire West District.

The SP also said vehicular movements into the city have been closely monitored to check movement of anti-social elements and extremists into the capital citry.

North SP Uttam Majumdar and David Srijeesh, SP South, said intensive security measures have been taken in their districts to prevent any untoward incident. '' Additional security personnel have been deployed in rural areas, mainly the extremist dominated areas, to maintain law and order in the district,'' said Mr Majumdar.

Mr Srijeesh said special anti-insurgency operations have been conducted to flush out the militants.

Dhalai SP Arindam Nath said special drives have been conducted to put pressure on the anti-social elements as well as militants.

UNI PD-PB KK SY KN1820