Massive security blanket across Tripura, festive mode on high from ‘Maha Chaturthi’ day

Amidst mad rush for pre-puja shopping and visiting of Puja pandals by revellers on the day of ‘Maha Chaturthi’, the state police has made a massive security arrangement to maintain the law and order with special measures for traffic management.

With the regular passenger train services including local services through DEMO, hundreds of people from different parts of the state have also gathered in the city on Friday   , which is picking up momentum for shopping and business transactions and in the evening large numbers of devotees thronged in pandals across the state.

As there are no restrictions on traffic movements from the day of ‘Maha Chaturthi’ and taking advantage of pleasant weather, thousands of puja revellers with private or commercial vehicles are moving pandal to pandal.

However, massive security arrangements are being made to ensure peaceful observance of the festivities of Durga Puja in Agartala city and other parts of the state.

Giving details of the security measures, Director General of Police (DGP) Anurag Dhankar addressing a press conference at police headquarters in Agartala on Friday afternoon said that although there is no specific threat and no alert has not sounded from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and other agencies, the state police establishment is leaving no stone unturned to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga puja.

DGP said, this year as per available information Durga Puja is likely to be celebrated at 2965 places or pandals in the entire state, this includes above 772 Durga pujas in West Tripura district including pujas in Agartala. He said that around 10 percent increase was seen in community Durga Puja in comparison to last year, which was 2750 Pujas across Tripura.

He said that this year around 24 Durga Pujas are being organised in the Gandacherra subdivision of Dhalai district, which witnessed a violence last year.

He said Tripura police have already started taking preventive actions against anti-social elements, checking vulnerable places and conducting special drives for traffic enforcement in view of the coming festive season.

DGP Anurag said that an adequate number of police personnel in all districts, around 6550 TSR jawans along with police forces will be deployed during Durga Puja all over the state. In addition, 320 police personnel from police headquarters and other establishment of police will also be deployed during Puja days and altogether 920 trainee recruited police personnel were also deployed in festival duties.

Some traffic restrictions will be imposed during the Puja days in and around Agartala city for specific duration from the day of ‘Maha Saptami’ (September 29) to ‘Vijaya Dashami; (October 2) from evening 5 PM to Midnight 1 AM with no-entry zones. Good carrying vehicles will be allowed their movements across the Agartala city from morning 6 AM to 5 PM.

He said that police will continue an anti-narcotic special drive and will also intensify in coming days specially during the celebration of festivities.

‘So far there is no report of any extremist movement within the state, however, police is maintaining strict vigil inside the state’s territory and considering the unrest in Bangladesh, BSF has been asked to maintain strict vigil on the Indo-Bangla border to prevent any attempt of extremists and anti-social elements,’ said Anurag and added that all police stations in interior areas have been put on high alert in view of ensuing festivities.

Altogether 241 police assistance booths will be set up including few exclusively in Agartala to render assistance to the people, besides watch towers are being constructed in all critical locations including towers in Agartala.

All the sensitive and important places where foot falls are expected to be more, will be kept under CCTV surveillance and a total of 320 CCTV cameras have been fixed at many locations all over the state including important locations of Agartala. Hundreds of CCTV cameras were installed across the state excluding the available CCTV cameras installed in Agartala under Smart city project including in some puja pandals.

 All major motor stands, car auto parking areas, and crowds will be under CCTV surveillance. The organizers of puja committees especially, where big pandals have been requested to install CCTV cameras in and around their puja pandals. He said an adequate number of security forces including TSR and other forces has been deployed across Agartala city and other parts of the state.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) have taken special care for safety and security of the puja revellers across all railway stations, said DGP and added that in addition to the above deployment, central forces have been deployed in major police stations areas for law-and-order duties.

Under the Emergency Response Security System (ERSS), mobile vehicles will also remain in service round the clock, for which the toll-free call number is 112.

Apart from ERSS, round the clock police patrolling will be conducted across the state and state police have also hired additional 215 vehicles for patrolling duties.

Police also said that anti-sabotage checks have been stepped up and the services of Dog squad and bomb detection and disposal squad are being utilized. The state disaster response force will be kept ready for attending any emergency. The state police requested the people of the state to abide by rules to make Puja peaceful and enjoyable.

Police sources said that police mobile, foot patrols, anti-liquor raids, surprise checks of hotels and checking of vehicles have been intensified and actions are being taken against anti-social elements.

During the press meet, ADG, GS Rao, IGP Krishnendu Chakravertty , SP of West Tripura district and SP of Traffic unit along with other officers were also present.