Back-to-back festivals keep cops busy

March 18th, 2008 | posted by Anjali

NAGPUR: The back-to-back festivals of Id-e-Milad and

Holi would be a double challenge for the city police later this week. While Id will fall on March 20, first day of Holi will

be celebrated on March 21. In order to ensure peaceful festivities, city police convened a peace committee meeting at police

gymkhana on Monday.

Police have urged Muslims to organise the Id-e-Milad procession from 10 am to 3 pm on

Thursday, March 20. "The typical celebration generally kicks off from 4 pm on Holi. Viewing the situation, we have requested

the Muslim community to end their procession with the afternoon Namaaz prayer," said joint commissioner of police B J

Kangale. "Police have also requested Muslims to confine their processions in respective areas only. It would be advisable for

them not to visit other localities on vehicles in groups," added Kangale.

Apart from the general instructions,

police authorities have reportedly also prohibited arrangement of lighting on the iron dividers between Fawara chowk and

Dossar Bhavan chowk. "The lighting arrangement on the iron divider can pose serious threat and hence, we have pointed out to

the community that has arranged for it. Apart from the factor of iron rod, Holi is also a celebration where lot of water is

used and the lights are dangerously close to the public too," ascertained Kangale.

Kangale has also reportedly

appealed to the community observing Holi to maintain dignity of the festival and create no public nuisance. "No throwing

colours on public on the road and no ruckus after drinking," warned Kangale adding that police would be strict, particularly

on eve-teasers and street romeos. "Vehicles would under surveillance. Over speeding and plying with passengers exceeding the

capacity would attract heavy action," stated the senior officer.

Apart from the security planning, crime branch,

local police and special squads have already started flushing out criminals, particularly with records, from the sensitive

areas. B K Upadhyay, additional commissioner of police (crime), hinted that number of criminals have been already placed

under scanner through preventive and other police actions.

Source:

Vidarbha