Ranchi: With 10 days left for the Jagannath Rath Mela, senior police officials on Sunday reviewed security arrangements and directed stringent measures to ensure a safe, peaceful and drug-free Rath Yatra on July 16.Additional director general (ADG) Manoj Kaushik, Ranchi district police officials and members of the Jagannath Temple managing committee assessed preparations for the annual fair and reviewed law and order arrangements.Kaushik directed the Ranchi SSP, city, traffic and rural SPs, and other officials to ensure adequate deployment of police personnel, volunteers and women constables on the temple premises and along the procession route.“Directions were given to ensure proper barricading and traffic diversions at spots around the temple area to control the heavy footfall at the temple during the Rath Yatra. Temple management and the police force were also directed to ensure sufficient and effective installation of CCTV cameras so that the entire venue can be monitored round the clock and prevent any kind of untoward incidents,” ADG Kaushik said.He also asked officers to identify vulnerable and high-footfall locations for enhanced surveillance and conduct physical verification of the entire route. Senior police personnel have been told to visit the area daily from Monday, strengthen the anti-narcotics enforcement drive and monitor festival arrangements.“SSP, SP and other police personnel will visit the area and monitor all the vendors who will set up their shops and ensure that they do not block roads, ensuring enough space for devotees’ movement. Instructions were given to continuously monitor social media and other digital platforms to detect and respond promptly to rumours, misinformation or any content that could disturb communal harmony or public order during the festivities,” he added.Police are preparing to maintain law and order during the fair, while temple authorities are arranging around 500 volunteers from nearby areas to assist the force.“An estimated 10 lakh devotees are likely to participate in the 10-day fair. The annual festivities already began with the Maha Snan (holy bath) of Lord Jagannath on June 29, when the deities were ceremonially bathed with 153 pitchers of water,” Jaysingh Yadav, an official of the Jagannath Temple management authorities, said.
