Security tightened in Ranchi

Ranchi, Oct 5 (UNI) The Jharkhand police has made elaborate security arrangements to thwart any untoward incident during Durga puja celebrations in the state in the wake of serial bomb blasts, which rocked metropolitan cities, including New Delhi, coupled with repeated bomb hoaxes in the state capital.

Official sources said the district police, officers of special branch and magistrates would be deployed along with home guards at all puja pandals.

In Ranchi, the district administration also directed to install close circuit television cameras in about 67 puja pandals where revellers throng in large numbers.

Sources said 19 watch towers were also being built across the state capital to keep tab on suspected movements.

Senior Superintendent of Police M S Bhatia said the department had also appealed the people to cooperate by giving information of any mysterious people or things.

''We have also requested people not to pay attention to rumours and avoid wearing valuable ornaments while visiting pandals,'' Mr Bhatia said.

Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Arun Ekka said directives had also been issued to all puja committees to follow Sound Pollution Control Act, 2000, and switch off their loudspeakers after 2000 hours.

Mr Ekka said stern action would be taken against the violators and the administration could cancel their puja licence for next year.

Special traffic arrangements had also been made to avoid congestion during puja period as the city also faces rush from nearby rural areas.

About 25 places had been identified as parking areas in the city.

A bomb was found in a shopping mall at Mahatma Gandhi Road two months ago, besides bomb hoax calls received by three premier schools last month.

In the steel city of Jamshedpur, similar arrangements were being made, the reports said.

Security was also tightened in Maoist-dominated districts like Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Chatra and Koderma.

In all 22 districts in the state were officially declared as naxalite-dominated.

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