Security beefed up in UP ahead of Holi

Lucknow, Mar 13: Elaborate

arrangements are being made to ensure smooth passage of

in

, State home department said on Thursday.

Two Additional Superintendents of Police, nine Deputy Superintendents of Police, over 38 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 12 companies of Rapid Action Force will be deployed in the various districts of the state to ensure peace and tranquillity during the festival, a home department spokesman here said.

Special emphasis would be on districts like Lucknow, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Moradabad, Gorakhpur among others which would get additional force, the spokesman said.

A video conference to review preparations for Holi with district officials and the Director General of Police headquarters is also being held in which poll related preparations would be reviewed specially because the nomination process for the first-phase of polling is likely to start soon, the spokesman added.

Holi falls on March 17 this year.

PTI