Security tightened in Varanasi ahead of fair

Security has been beefed up at various places of worship in view of the upcoming Shravan Mela in the city.

Security arrangements have been tightened in and around the sensitive Kashi Vishwanath Temple - Gyanvapi Mosque complex, Sankat Mochan temple and other religious shrines and vital installations in the district in view of the Sharawan Fair commencing from tomorrow, a senior police official said on Sunday.

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The authorities have for the first time, deployed 30 PAC commandos in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque premises in addition to six companies each of CRPF, PAC and four companies of RAF to ensure foolproof security of the shrine, Senior Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Pandey told reporters.

Teams of bomb disposal squad, anti sabotage, dog squad and fire brigade had also been added in the security set up apart from over 400 policemen and intelligence sleuths during the mela amid threats from terrorists and subversive elements, he said.

The authorities have set up 10 close circit TV cameras at vital points in and around the temple-mosque complex to keep an eye on the movement of pilgrims and common people, Pandey said adding e-ray machines had also been deployed for checking of the belongings of devotees.