Patna: Police in Bihar have announced stringent security measures for the upcoming festival season, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Milad-Un-Nabi, Anant Chaturdashi, Vishwakarma Puja, and the Pitripaksha fair in Gaya.
The state’s Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order), Pankaj Kumar Darad, said that licences from local authorities will be mandatory for any procession. He also confirmed a complete ban on DJs during Ganesh idol immersions on Anant Chaturdashi.
“All sensitive locations should be identified, and additional security forces deployed,” Darad said at a press briefing at the Police Headquarters in Patna. He added that the control room would operate round the clock during the festivals, with district authorities submitting situation reports every four hours.
Authorities have been instructed to conduct peace committee meetings before approving processions and to verify routes physically. Videography of all processions will be mandatory, and divers will be stationed at river ghats designated for idol immersion. District police have also been asked to monitor social media and take preventive action against suspicious individuals.
Additional security measures have been implemented for the Pitripaksha fair in Gaya, which runs from September 6 to 21. A total of 395 police officials, 1,600 constables, and 800 home guards have been deployed, alongside five companies of armed forces, two mounted police troops, two tear gas squads, one regional riot control company, and two bomb disposal squads. Help desks will be established at key locations, including the bus stand and railway station, to assist visitors.
