Elaborate security arrangements for Diwali in Bihar

Patna, Oct 28 (UNI) In the midst of gloom and sadness across Bihar since yesterday following the killing of Rahul Raj in Mumbai and attacks on Bihari students, Diwali,the festival of light was celebrated in a subdued manner.

However, this year, the festival was being celebrated in a low-key manner across the country because of the ongoing economic slowdown and high inflation rate which had forced the cost of fireworks and other items skyrocketing.

But despite these, most of the houses in Patna and elsewhere in the state were illuminated with colourful lights and candles since yesterday evening and a large number of people, particularly the children, came out on to the streets to celebrate the occasion as usual with fireworks and by distributing sweets and exchanging Diwali greetings.

Interestingly this year, two unique types of crackers bearing the names and photographs of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are being sold like hot cakes in local markets.

Meanwhile, the state government had made elaborate security bandobast to prevent any untoward incident in the backdrop of yesterday's killing of Rahul Raj Prasad in Mumbai and unabated attacks on Bihari students in Maharashtra.

Apprehending some trouble upon arriva of Rahul's body from Mumbai here this evening, the state government had taken care of everything to keep the situation under control.

Apart from deploying large number of security forces in and around the Patna airport and in all sensitive places across the capital city and elsewhere in the state, round the clock vigil was being maintained to ensure fool proof arrangements, official sources here today informed.

However, the situation so far was absolutely normal with no report of any untoward incident or protest coming from anywhere in the state,the sources added.

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