UP deploys additional CRP commandos ahead of final royal bath

Ardh Kumbh Nagar, Jan 22 (UNI) With 80 lakh pilgrims expected to arrive here for a holy dip on Basant Panchami tomorrow, the Uttar Pradesh Police has decided to deploy additional commandos at the Ardh Kumbh Mela here.

The Basant Panchami festival would also mark the last Shahi Snan (Royal Bath) by 13 akharas.

SSP (Ardh Kumbh) Rajiv Sabbarwal told UNI here that additional commandos from the Central Reserve Police (CRP) and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) would be deployed at various places.

He, however, said their location could not be disclosed.

During the last shahi snan, commandos were deployed at the various Ghats set up for the royal bath by Akharas and the pilgrims.

With the Awahani Akhara still undecided over its participation in the Snan, security agencies are working on a two-pronged strategy to ensure peace tomorrow.

While on one hand the police has to ensure against a possible terrorist strike, they also have to calm the tempers of the various akharas on Basant Panchami Shahi Snan.

While over 30 lakh people, including sadhus and saints were staying at the Mela, another 80 lakh were expected to reach here for Basant Panchami, taking the figure to over 1.30 crore pilgrims, Divisional Commissioner R N Tripathi said here this evening.

During the Makar Sakranti snan, the Awahani Akhara had boycott the snan to protest the administration's refusal to grant it separate time slot for the holy dip.

While the month-long festivity has so far passed off peacefully, police and security agencies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the last royal bath does not witness any major incident.

Terrorist spotters in civil clothes are already keeping a close vigil on the pilgrims. These spotters have been drawn from across India.

With over a crore people likely to take the dip besides the Akharas, a hawk eye vigil is being maintained over the mela spread across 7,000 acres of sandy land.

To counter terror attacks, a strong posse of 6,000 paramilitary jawans has been deployed in the Mela area. Besides, the just-deployed new commando units, 12 commando squads, 12 anti-mines teams, and 10 anti-sabotage teams would also be stationed on a round-the-clock basis.

Besides, 28 close circuit cameras have been placed at the city's sensitive and vantage spots to keep an eye over the entry of suspect elements during the Mela.

The administration has requisitioned the services of 300 Border Security Force and Rapid Action Force jawans.

The jawans have been rushed from Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar and Maharashtra. Besides, 11,000 police personnel would also be deployed in the Mela area.

The entire Mela area has been divided into 6 zones and 14 sectors. Thirty police stations, 35 police chowki and 5 police lines have been set up.

Ardh Kumbh Mela would culminate on February 26. Pilgrims from all over the world are thronging the holy city.

This year, over eight crore people are expected to visit the temple town of Allahabad during the Mela, the biggest religious congregation in the world on the banks of the holy Sangam -- the congloromation of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers.

UNI