NEW DELHI: Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren chaired a high-level meeting on Saturday to review arrangements on the eve of Ram Navami, and directed police officials to not allow bike rallies on the festival as these bring “security challenges.”
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Bike rallies have emerged as a “new tradition” on Ram Navami, Soren highlighted.
“Special focus should be on the identified sensitive zones. In recent years, a new tradition of organising bike rallies during Ram Navami has emerged. Bike rallies should not be allowed under any circumstance. These pose security challenges for the public and the organisers,” Soren told officials, according to news agency PTI.
He also called for strict action against those trying to spread “rumours” in the run-up to the festival.
Police personnel deployed in ‘sensitive’ districts
Police personnel in adequate numbers have been deployed in “sensitive” districts such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Giridih and Hazaribagh for “peaceful” Ram Navami celebrations, an official said.
CCTV cameras, drones and security personnel equipped with video cameras are being deployed at key locations to monitor gatherings, he added.
In Ranchi, Additional DM (Law and Order) Rajeshwar Nath Alok said 200 magistrates and over 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in the state capital.
“CCTV cameras have been installed at 650 locations, besides 10 drone cameras, which are monitoring the movement of people for the past three days,” Alok stated.
He further said other arrangements, including traffic management measures, adequate lighting at prominent streets, drinking water facilities and medical camps have also been ensured.
Bokaro deputy commissioner Jadhav Vijaya Narayan Rao also said all necessary preparations have been made in view of the festival.
In East Singhbhum district, deputy commissioner Ananya Mittal and SP Kishore Kaushal inspected various ghats, where immersion of the Ram Navami flags are held.
Social media accounts are also under the scanner, as part of the security measures, the officials added.
