Drones, CCTVs to monitor Muharram processions, Kanwar Yatras

Time of India

15 hours ago

Varanasi: Drone cameras and CCTV network will be used to maintain sharp vigil on Muharram processions and Kanwar Yatra to be taken out during Shravan, said Commissioner of Police Mohit Agrawal.
While finalising the preparations to ensure law and order during the religious processions, the official instructed to prohibit initiating any new traditions and sought the participation of community members in conducting the religious rituals peacefully.
In view of Muharram falling on July 6 and the beginning of the auspicious month of Shrawan, the CP and district magistrate Satyendra Kumar held a meeting with the peace committee, Tazia procession organisers, Kanwariya camp operators, religious leaders, and prominent community members on Saturday evening.
They issued guidelines for observing the rituals in a harmonious environment, maintaining peace, and ensuring security arrangements.
For proper monitoring of the Tazia processions and the Kanwar Yatra, the CP mentioned that, apart from the deployment of police and paramilitary forces, drones and CCTV cameras will also be utilised for proper surveillance, especially in sensitive areas. No new traditions will be introduced, and all processions will follow the traditional routes.
Provocative slogans, weapons, and inflammatory activities are strictly prohibited in Tazia or other religious processions and violations of the norms would lead to strict action.
The CP asked the organisers to appoint 20 volunteers at each Tazia Chowk after their police verification for crowd control and maintaining discipline.
Special arrangements will be made for the convenience and safety of the devotees in temples during the Shravan month.
Officials have asked to keep the sound levels of DJs and drums during Kanwar Yatras within the prescribed decibels. Obscene, provocative, or film songs will be banned during the processions and the height of chariots and DJ vehicles should not exceed the prescribed limit, said the official. Officials said that continuous monitoring of social media will also be ensured, while Quick Response Teams (QRT) will be deployed at any sensitive location, and the police will keep a close watch on anti-social elements.
Earlier, Additional Police Commissioner Shivhari Mina and the DM inspected Markandeya Mahadev Temple on the Ganga-Gomati confluence in the Kaithi area and Kanwar Yatra routes. After taking stock of the temple and areas in its vicinity, they held a meeting with the temple's chief priest to discuss essential arrangements and reviewed the local administration's preparations. The entrance and exit routes of the temple, queue management for devotees, and the status of barricading from a security perspective were observed.
The officials also reviewed preparations for maintaining cleanliness, security, roads, ghats, and drinking water arrangements. The concerned departments were directed to ensure deep water barricading, jetty installation, changing rooms, mobile toilets, and drinking water tankers at the ghats to prevent drowning.