E-Paper
Holi revelry: Cops told to be extra alert
At a time when most of the citizens must be looking forward to making the festival of Holi merrier, men in uniform have been directed to be more vigilant than ever before. Varanasi serial blasts which took many innocent lives has goaded senior cops to tell their subordinates to be on their toes. Anything can happen. Even terrorists might strike. Terror outfits and ISI agents may go to the length of sullying the peace and tranquility on such occasion .
At a time when most of the citizens must be looking forward to making the festival of Holi merrier, men in uniform have been directed to be more vigilant than ever before.
Varanasi serial blasts which took many innocent lives has goaded senior cops to tell their subordinates to be on their toes.
Anything can happen. Even terrorists might strike. Terror outfits and ISI agents may go to the length of sullying the peace and tranquility on such occasion, says a missive issued by the DIG range Akhilesh Mehrotra to the police chiefs of the four districts including Allahabad, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh.
Besides, some recent incidents of mocking at the gods and religious heads of the two communities through paintings have further surcharged the atmosphere.
All this has, to some extent, also affected the feeling of brotherhood amongst people of the two communities.
The city of Prayag, being more communally sensitive, requires more alertness, cops have been told.
In Lalgopalganj the prospect of clash over the procession of Holi always looms large in the mind. Thatheri Bazar in the city where gates of the Jama Masjid are opened in the afternoon for Namaz is also another sensitive place where cops will have to sweat out more this time.
While in the city the attention of cops will be centered in places like Kareli, Khuldabad, Attarsuiya,, Kotwali, Shahganj, Dhumanganj, Muthiganj, and Kydganj, in rural areas policemen have been directed by the DIG to watch out in Banka, Jalalpur, Mau Aima, Lalgopalganj, Sikandara, Baharia, Phulpur, Handia, Kareha, Karchana, Jhusi, Bharatganj, and Naini areas having mixed population.
Taking cue from past incidents at these places the DIG cited the murder of a person in Sirsa in 2003. The incident had taken place over colour throwing.
People of one community had gone berserk and pelted stones at the Holi procession in Sikandara, Baharia in 2004. This was followed by arson and rioting.
Tension has not died down there till date, reminded the DIG.
