Security Tightened Across Jharkhand Ahead of Durga Puja

 Ranchi:  Security has been tightened across Jharkhand ahead of the four-day Durga Puja festival to avoid any untoward incident and maintain law and order, a senior official said on Friday. Additional forces, drones and CCTV cameras have been deployed in major cities, including Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad, he said.

In Ranchi, more than 2,000 police forces comprising Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and Rapid Action Forces (RAFs) have been deployed across the city.

Monitoring will be done through CCTV and drone cameras. Besides, a comprehensive control room has been established to manage crowds at around 30 major puja pandals, Superintendent of Police (City), Paras Rana, said.

Routes for the idol immersion procession have been identified, and cranes will be used this time for immersion at major water bodies, he said.

Rakesh Singh, Superintendent of Police (Traffic), said, "We have deployed around 1,400 traffic police personnel, half of them women, who will manage traffic during the festival."

Besides, drop gates have been made at 161 locations across the city to control vehicle movement, and 23 locations have been identified for parking vehicles, he said, adding that entry of heavy vehicles will be restricted till October 21.

In Dhanbad, security forces conducted a flag march on Friday to instil confidence among residents and maintain peace, a police officer said.

Adequate security personnel have been deployed across the district to maintain the law and order situation during the four days of Durga Puja. Movement of heavy vehicles has been curbed during the festival, Dhanbad City SP Ritvik Srivastav said.

East Singhbhum DC Rajiv Ranjan said, "In view of Durga Puja, foot patrolling and a mock drill were organised on Friday from Sakchi Golchakkar to Aam Bagan to practise responding to emergencies.

Arrangements for parking vehicles around the puja pandals in urban areas have been made to ensure smooth movement for people."

Security arrangements at the immersion ghats, including boats, divers and cranes, have been made available as required, while dangerous places have been identified and barricaded, he said.

In Hazaribag, one unit of Central Paramilitary Force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the city, DSP (Headquarters) Gayan Ranjan said.