Amidst mad rush for pre-puja shopping, 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, thousands of people from different parts of the state have also gathered in the city, which is picking up momentum for marketing and business transactions.

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, the SP and DM of West Tripura district addressing a press conference at SP office in Agartala on Sunday said that although there is no specific threat and no alert has not sounded from Ministry of Home Affairs and other agencies, the district police establishment is leaving no stone unturned to ensure peaceful celebrations of Durga puja.

SP(West) Kiran Kumar said that this year as per available information Durga Puja is likely to be celebrated at 900 places or pandals in the entire west Tripura district including around 500 pujas in Agartala.

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.

Kumar said that an adequate number of police , TSR and SPO jawans will be deployed during Durga Puja all over the district and some traffic restrictions will be imposed during the Puja days in and around Agartala city for specific duration.

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

‘ Police is maintaining strict vigil inside the state’s territory and BSF has been asked to maintain strict vigil on the Indo-Bangla border to prevent any attempt of extremists and anti-social elements,’ said Kumar and added that all police stations in interior areas have been put on high alert in view of ensuing festivities.

Altogether 253 fixed police assistance booths, 30 CCTV cameras, 60 police assistance booths, and 25 drop gates will be set up including few exclusively in Agartala to render assistance to the people, besides 30 watch towers are being constructed in all critical locations including towers in Agartala.

Kumar said that the sensitive and important places where foot falls are expected to be more, will be kept under CCTV surveillance and CCTV will be fixed at many locations all over the district including important locations of Agartala.

 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 security forces will be deployed across Agartala city during Puja days.

The Railway police have taken special care for safety and security of the puje revelers across all railway stations, said police and added that in addition to the above deployment, CRPF have been deployed in major police stations areas.

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.

The SP added that anti-sabotage checks have been stepped up and the services of Dog squad and bomb detection and disposal squad are being utilized.

Meanwhile, speaking in the press meet, DM(West) Dr Vishal Kumar urges all citizens, organizations, political parties to avoid any kind of street protest rallies across Agartala to maintain smooth traffic movements for shoppers. He also said that authorities have taken strict action against forceful puja subscription collection and will also impose stringent action if any club or community puja organizers violate the government rules. Dr Vishal Kumar Kumar also urges puja organizers to avoid DJ sound systems and authorities will not allow any high decibel sound system in public places.

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.