'No Permission To Start New Traditions...': UP Police Issues Guidelines On Holi

Ahead of Holi, UP Police have issued guidelines to ensure traditional celebrations and prevent untoward incidents.

Ahead of upcoming Holi festival, UP Police have issued guidelines and said that no new traditions should be allowed and festivals must be celebrated traditionally.

UP DGP Prashant Kumar issued the detailed instructions to all zonal ADGs, commissioners, IGs/DIGs, SSPs/SPs, and district police chiefs to ensure effective policing and public safety across the state.

In the order, it is stated that anti-social elements should be identified in advance and effective preventive action should be taken against them. 

"After reviewing the disputes and cases related to Holi in the past years, effective preventive action should be taken accordingly", the order reads.

The order further stated that as Holi festival falls on Friday, a meeting should be held by the police officers and magistrate of all the districts with the religious leaders of all the religions, organisers of programs/processions and others. The order said that effective and impartial action should be taken promptly to maintain law and order.

As per the order, the social media team of the entire Commissionerate/District should monitor every social media platform 24 hours , and immediate cognisance and prompt legal action on objectionable/misleading posts should be taken.

What Sambhal DM Said?

On security arrangements in Sambhal ahead of the Holi celebrations, Sambhal DM Rajendra Pensia said, as quoted by news agency ANI, "The procession of fairs will be taken out tomorrow. The total number of fairs is 16. We held peace committee meetings in every locality and village and two committee meetings at the district level. We have formed 27 quick response teams. We have created a total of six zones and 29 sectors and deployed magistrates and police officers in each one... SHOs of every police station and all magistrates have been asked to patrol the hotspots. PAC battalions have been deployed for three-tier security as before..." 

He added, "250 CCTV cameras have been installed, and with the help of the municipality, 100-150 additional CCTVs are installed during every festival. Surveillance has been done with drones once and will be done once more. A flag march was conducted under the leadership of the DIG..."