Ghaziabad: Security to be tightened for Kanwar yatra

The police and administrative officials in Ghaziabad have made elaborate arrangements, especially in the communally sensitive areas of western UP, to ensure a peaceful passage, officials said.

The annual Kanwar yatra will witness unprecedented security measures this year in view of the terrorist attack that killed seven Amarnath pilgrims, including six women, and injured 19 others in Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Monday.

The city police have roped in drones and activated their social media monitoring cells at district and police station level to scan for inflammatory messages and posts. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

The Uttar Pradesh additional director general (law and order) Anand Kumar has directed all the district superintendents of police and the chiefs to ensure that security is tightened.

The police and administrative officials in Ghaziabad have made elaborate arrangements, especially in the communally sensitive areas of western UP, to ensure a peaceful passage, officials said.

The police have earmarked the stretch from Meerut-Ghaziabad border to the city area as sensitive and said they will secure the 100km route, including the Kanwar Marg adjacent to Upper Ganga canal, the erstwhile NH-58 and the pipeline road in Murad Nagar.

“We have roped in the deputy superintendent of police, station house officers, head constables, men and women constables and plainclothes personnel in the guise of Kanwariyas. Each of the area falling in Ghaziabad has been divided into sectors and sub-sectors and officers concerned officer will monitor their area,” said AK Maurya, superintendent of police (rural).

The city police have roped in drones and activated their social media monitoring cells at district and police station level to scan for inflammatory messages and posts. Hundreds of civil defence volunteers will also man busy crossings to ensure speedy movement of Kanwariyas.

Kanwariyas have started to move in large numbers in trains from Delhi and Ghaziabad to Haridwar from July 10.

“We are ensuring that the security for train journey can be tightened by roping in the government railway police and railway protection force, besides the city police. For the next 10-12 days, we will make optimal use of our resources and have also coordinated with different agencies to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. The personnel in plainclothes will also be moving in trains to track anti-social elements,” said Binod Kumar Singh, inspector general, Railways (Lucknow).

The Ghaziabad police have also started erecting watch towers. A total of 30 towers is being erected under seven police station areas — Sihani Gate, Kotwali, Sahibabad, Indirapuram, Modi Nagar, Niwari and Murad Nagar.

Officials said that they have requested for additional police and paramilitary forces to ensure the safe passage of around 60 lakh Kanwariyas who will use the Ghaziabad route.

UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath also held a special meeting of state officials on June 30 and supervised arrangements in the state.