Securitymen on toes for Navaratra festival at Vindhyachal

Mirzapur, Sep 29 (UNI) In the wake of recent terrorist attack in the national capital, unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the Navaratra fair at Vindhyachal shrine.

Over 3,000 police personnel have been deployed in the area, besides, commandoes and paramilitary forces at the 'garbhgrah' and other most sensitive area for the Navaratra fair, which is commencing tomorrow here.

During the fair, touching the goddess or offering coconut or split opening the coconut shell would be strickly prohibited. The VIP's also come under the bracket.

The district administration said today, special arrangements have been made to avoid stampede or similar incidents. Besides, traffic and river police have been alerted to control the vehicular movement and maintain vigil at the ghats respectively.

Bomb disposal squads would also be present at the mela premises, he added.

Superintendent of Police Pritindar Singh and Deputy Inspector General of police Chandra Dev Tiwari are personally looking into the security arrangements.

At least nine CCTV cameras have been planted at sensitive and most sensitive areas and officials will supervise and monitor the situation round-the-clock from supervision centre at the mela premises, Mr Singh said.

Both, male and female police official would be masquerading around the premises as civilians.

In addition, to tackle with any urgency or exigency Reserve Police Force (RPF) would be on toes.

After taking stock of the situation at the mela area yesterday, Mr Tiwari apprised that personnel had been instructed to maintain proper vigil and no laxity should be committed.

District Magistrate S P Dixit said to avoid gathering near the temple, barraciding had been done, and for proper management the mela premises had been divided into eight zones and 27 sectors, in which zonal and sector magistrates had been appointed. Besides, dress code had been allotted for priests and barbers, Mr Dixit added.

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