People offer saptami prayer as secuiry tightened in capital

Ranchi, Oct 18 (UNI) Devotees today thronged various puja panadals in the capital to offer prayer on 'mahasaptami' with the authorities making elaborate security arrangements to avert any untoward incident during the Durga puja.

Besides police personnel, the administration deployed women constables in large number at all points in and around puja pandals keeping in mind eve-teasers during such occasions.

The district suprintendent of police of all the 24 districts were directed to be on alert, official sources said.

Special patrolling was being done and police personnel in plain clothes were deputed at sensitive areas.

The puja committes have installed close circuit television cameras in the crowded areas and sniffer dogs were also pressed into service.

This year replicas of the Cartoon Palace of London, Hoghly Bridge of Kolkata, Aksahrdham temple of Delhi and an ancient Shiv Mandir of Nepal are among the few instances of crowd-pulling pandals.

All puja organisers were advised to play only religious songs and ensure deployment of women cadres for the convenience of women and childern.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi Avinash Kumar had rounds of meetings with the administrative officials and puja committees to ensure peaceful celebrations.

UNI