CCTVs, extra force to make festivities safer

The Delhi Police have joined hands with Ramlila and Durga Puja committees to ensure that no untoward incident happens during the festive season.

The Delhi Police have joined hands with Ramlila and Durga Puja committees to ensure that no untoward incident happens during the festive season.

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Special arrangements, such as placing of recently procured 150 quick reaction vehicles (QRVs) and stationing 6,000 Delhi Police constables outside the venues, are being made to make Puja pandals and Ramlila venues safer, the police said.

“We will also make available 670 special commandos of Delhi Police in case there’s a shootout,” an officer said.
“In the aftermath of the recent blast, we have made special arrangements to make sure that no untoward incident happens in the Capital again. Puja pandals and Ramlila venues are soft targets for terrorists as the footfall is high here,” a senior police officer said. The police have also chalked out a security plan for crowded venues and markets in and around the city.

The cops are also getting Ramlila committees sign an undertaking before giving them permission. They have instructed them to place CCTV cameras at strategic locations of the venue to keep an eye on crowds. The district DCPs will also meet private security guards hired by committees to acquaint them with the mandatory Delhi Police guidelines.

Meanwhile, puja and Ramlila committees are not leaving the security arrangement entirely to the police. “We are conducting mock disaster management drills so that we can take timely action in case there’s a stampede or any other incident. We are also training our volunteers and private security guards and will set up a medical desk at the venue. Ambulances will also be stationed outside the pandal,” said PK Roy, New Delhi Kali Bari, Mandir Marg.