UP police directed to ensure communal harmony in UP polls

Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) G L Sharma has directed his police officials posted at districts to ensure that political parties do not use religion and caste factors to influence the voters.

The DGP has also asked all zonal IG, range DIGs and district police chiefs to deploy patrolling parties and raise pickets in sensitive areas to nip in the bud any attempt to fan communal tension during the seven phase assembly elections. ''The patrol parties and personnel deployed at pickets should have all riot control equipment,'' he has said.

Mr Sharma has also suggested his men to maintain vigil on people known to create communal disturbances. ''A special care is required in Agra, Allahabad, Meerut, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Bahraich, Azamgarh, Mau, Kanpur and Varanasi where communal tension has erupted in the past,'' he said.

''Ensure that the weapons which are exempted from being seized before elections are not used to intimidate the voters...take quick action against factories manufacturing illegal firearms and illicit liquor,'' he said.

UNI