E-Paper
UP police sound alert for Holi, vigil intensified
Police said leave of all police officers and personnel will stand cancelled from March 16 to 20 so that they remain on duty during the festival.
The state police had been issued stern directives to maintain peace and avert any law-and-order problem on Holi, said senior police officials here on Tuesday. They said leave of all police officers and personnel will stand cancelled from March 16 to 20 so that they remain on duty during the festival.
Police said that Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Mukul Goel on Monday had issued stern directives to all field police officers to take stern action against those involved in disturbing law and order situation in the state.
The district police chiefs have also been asked to rope in prominent persons and group leaders of the areas to maintain law and order in mixed community areas.
A press communiqué from the state police headquarters stated that mobile policing and quick reactions teams would remain active during the festival. The directions were made to ensure police visibility on the roads and they reach the trouble spot at the earliest.
The DGP issued directions to all district police chiefs for special deployment at strategic points like important crossings, intersections and other spots where the problem had occurred in the past. Besides, extra police force has been allocated to sensitive districts.
The district police chiefs have also been asked to identify the trouble spots and make a list of trouble mongers in advance to keep tab on them. They have been asked to take other preventive measures and to keep vigil on notorious elements.
The police chiefs have been asked to keep a watch and try averting clashes between people during festival revelry.
The directives were given as often people try to settle their personal scores during festival revelry and notorious elements try to instigate tension by throwing colours on other community people and worship places. The district police chiefs have been strictly directed to ensure no such activity take place in districts.
