Devotees throng pandals amid security in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Oct 7 (UNI) Devotees in large numbers thronged pandals to offer Mahaastami prayer amid tight security arrangment here today.

The district administration deployed forces at all the sensitive places and policemen in civil dresses were among the crowds to keep tab of any suspicious movements.

The traffic police had a harrowing time controling jam on various routes and the situation became tougher as revellers swelled with the progress of the day.

Official sources said jawans of district police, officers of special branch and magistrates were deployed, while home guards were pressed into action at all the puja pandals.

In Ranchi, closed circuit television cameras were installed in about 67 puja pandals and 19 watch towers were also built across the state capital to keep a watch on suspected movements.

More than hundred puja committees across the city have erected pandals along with displaying attractive lighting arrangements.

The list of the committees include Bharat Navyuvak Sangh, R R Sporting Club, Bihar Club which spend more than five lakhs each in construction and decoration of pandals.

In the steel city Jamshedpur, artists from West Bengal and Orissa were engaged in the construction of the statue of the goddess.

Similarly, in Dhanbad and Bokaro, people thronged in large number to visit pandals and pay their obeisance to the deity.

Reports from Chatra said that special prayers were offered at the ancient temple located in Itkhori area.

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