Latest news with #LordJagannathRathYatra
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Row over sound system disrupts Rath Yatra
1 2 Kanpur: Following a dispute between police and organisers regarding the use of sound system, the historic and religious Rath Yatra could not commence on Friday. The Panki Mahant announced that he would self-immolate if the sub-inspector of Naya Ganj police outpost was not suspended. On his appeal, the traders of Nayaganj and nearby markets closed their shops. Followers and political party volunteers sat on dharna at Nayaganj crossing in support of Mahant. According to Mahant Jitendra Das and Krishna Das of Jagannath temple, before the Rath Yatra could begin, police officials arrived and instructed that only two speakers should be used in the band. Organisers opposed this and during the conversation, police misbehaved with them. Kanpur Police commissionerate on Thursday had implemented the provisions of section 163 BNS . The provision states that the directions of Allahabad and Lucknow high court regarding the use of loud speaker should be followed in letter and spirit. Using more than 2 loud speakers with in the limits of police commissioneate will have to obtain prior permission . Meanwhile, supporters and volunteers gathered and raised anti-police slogans. When senior police officials tried to pacify them, the demand for the inspector's suspension was reiterated. In the meantime, SP MLA Amitabh Bajpai also arrived with his supporters and joined the agitators. The agitating crowd recited 'Hanuman Chalisa' and Panki Mahant appealed to traders to close the market. General secretary of the temple committee, Vivek Gupta alleged that Badshahi Naqa inspector had thrashed the sound system operator with a lathi and abused both him and Panki Mahant. Senior police officials also arrived at the spot and tried to convince Panki Mahant and others, but Mahant and his followers were adamant and clearly stated that if Badshahi Naqa sub-inspector was not suspended, Mahant would self-immolate at Naya Ganj crossing. Later, the station in-charge of Badshahi Naka was suspended. Deputy Commissioner of Police East, Satyajit Gupta, announced the resumption of the Shobha Yatra. "We immediately suspended the in-charge of Badshahi Naka police station. He was accused of misbehaving and using abusive language with the organisers of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
More than 23k cops to be deployed for Gujarat Rath Yatra; AI-based surveillance system to make debut
More than 23,000 security personnel will be deployed during the heavily-patronised Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Gujarat's Ahmedabad on June 27, with the highlight being the deployment of an artificial intelligence-based surveillance system for the first time to prevent stampede-like situations, officials said on Thursday. The AI-based system would also notify police and the fire department in the event of a blaze and warn the police control room about overcrowding along the route, a Gujarat government release said. As per police, 14-15 lakh people are expected to attend the 148th edition of the Yatra. "Under the AI system, the visual analytics software at the police control room will receive live feeds from CCTV cameras and drones deployed on the route. The software will analyse the live feed to estimate the number of persons present at that particular spot and how many more are expected to arrive in a short period," the release said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo "Apart from AI, police will use drones for surveillance and Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled devices to track real time location of vehicles in the procession. Some 4500 personnel will walk with the procession on the entire route while 1931 personnel will be deployed for traffic management as several routes will be closed and there will be diversions," it added. A total of 23,884 security personnel, including local police, State Reserve Police (SRP), Chetak Commandos and Rapid Action Force, will be deployed along the route, while senior officials of the force will keep a watch on the procession using 2,872 body-worn cameras linked with the control room, the release said. Live Events It said 41 drones and 96 cameras have been installed at different locations and at 25 watch towers. Ahead of the 148th Rath Yatra, police had organised 177 meetings of peace committees, 235 meetings of mohalla committees, 57 meetings of women's committees as well as 21 meetings with various religious leaders with the aim of maintaining communal unity and harmony, the release informed. Traditionally, the procession, led by chariots, starts at 7am from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area and returns to it by 8pm, with the 16-kilometre route including the old city, which has some communally sensitive areas. The procession usually has 18 elephants, 100 trucks, and 30 akhadas, while lakhs of people gather along the route, officials said, adding that the chariots of Lord Jagganath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra will be pulled by the Khalasi community as per an age-old tradition.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Flag march in day, cricket match at night: In run-up to Rath Yatra, how communal harmony events are taking centrestage in Ahmedabad
Even as parts of the 16-km route of the upcoming Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra are seeing heightened vigilance with flag marches and intensive vehicle checking during the day, nightfall is witnessing games, sports and street plays in the walled city area – home to a mixed population of Hindu and Muslim residents. The communal harmony initiatives, entering their fourth edition this year, have become an annual feature ahead of the Rath Yatra. One such event was Ekta (unity) Cricket Cup, which saw the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) winning the inaugural match against the Ahmedabad City Police at the Bombay Housing Ground in Saraspur. While the 16-team cricket tournament, under the aegis of Zone-3 of the City Police, was being inaugurated by Commissioner of Police GS Malik with Mahant Dilipdas Maharaj of Jagannath Temple and Maulana Nurjamil Shaikh of Hussaini Masjid in attendance on Tuesday night, in another part of the old city, a 10-team volleyball tournament kicked off under the aegis of Zone-2 of the city police. On Wednesday night, as the cricket and volleyball tournaments were underway, Zone-3 DCP Vishakha Dabral, speaking to The Indian Express while waiting for a Nukkad Natak to begin on the Jagannath temple premises, said that a local artiste group was performing a play. 'Apart from the street plays, the cricket tournament will go on till June 14. On 15th, we have a blood donation camp at the temple, which will be attended by the Governor of Gujarat. We are also constantly holding shanti samiti (peace committee) meetings to make sure the yatra is a huge success,' she added. Meanwhile, Zone-2 DCP Bharatkumar Rathod, who is hosting the volleyball tournament, said, 'Our tournament was also inaugurated on Tuesday night. We have organised a shooting tournament as well as a passing tournament. A number of personnel of our police stations like Karanj and Madhavpura are also part of the teams participating at the tournament besides mixed teams of locals from various areas. Further, we have a religious harmony function with Gujarati film celebrities Yash Soni and Arjav Trivedi.' In the coming days, street plays and a musical night have been planned in Jamalpur and Teen Darwaza areas. DCP Rathod said the police will conduct a bike rally over the weekend, along with a blood donation drive at the Police Rifle Club. In addition, Zone-4 of the City Police will hold a tug-of-war competition. Inspector MD Chandravadiya of Shaherkotda police station, who has been organising the cricket tournament for the third consecutive year, said that 16 mixed teams are playing in the tournament with local religious and community leaders remaining present and locals participating in the sports. 'There are two teams from Saraspur, one each from Karanj and Khadiya, and others from Gomtipur, Amraiwadi and Rakhiyal. We also had the inaugural match between the City Police and ATS. The final will be played on June 14.' When asked about the purpose of these initiatives, PI Chandravadiya said, 'While the Rath Yatra itself is limited to the eastern part of the city, we want to tell the entire Ahmedabad that Hindus and Muslims celebrate this festival together and there are no bad feelings or conflict between the communities. This will only be further reinforced when the Rath Yatra is carried out without any problems or incident later this month.' On community participation during the Rath Yatra, in its 148th edition this year, the inspector said, 'Volunteers from Hindu and Muslim communities have been standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the areas the yatra is going to cover. The work on organising the yatra begins a month earlier, in May, and does not stop till the end of the yatra. We have no doubt that the Rath Yatra will be conducted without a glitch this year as well.' While Jagannath Temple Trustee Mahendra Jha could not be reached for comment, Maulana Shaikh told the Indian Express, 'The programmes being held before the Rath Yatra are beautiful. In these times of hatred, the message of love is very important. Like every year, the cricket tournament held by the Ahmedabad City Police is an example of maintaining communal harmony. Before being Hindus and Muslims, we are Hindustanis. Muslims will always stand up for our Hindu brethren. We congratulate the Ahmedabad City Police on its initiative.'
