Nagpur to deploy 3,500 police for Dussehra and Dhammachakra Pravartan Din events

Police in Nagpur have made large security arrangements for the Dussehra, Vijayadashami and Dhammachakra Pravartan Din events. Lakhs of devotees gather at Deekshabhoomi. Followers also visit the Dragon Palace in Kamptee. The Vijayadashami programme is held at the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and Ravan Dahan is held in different parts of the city. Police have drawn up a complete security plan for all of these.

Along with traditional arrangements, new technology is being used this time. Sensitive locations will be watched with CCTV cameras, AI technology, the BDDS team, dog squads, drone surveillance, crowd management, the intelligence wing and reserve forces. Police Commissioner Dr Vishwas Nangare Patil and his team are involved in the preparations. Police want all events to pass peacefully and people to have a safe environment.

About 3,500 police personnel are to be deployed for law and order during the festivals. They include senior officers, police inspectors, assistant police inspectors, sub-inspectors and other personnel. The State Reserve Police Force, riot control police and the quick response team will also be part of the deployment. If needed, extra force will be sent to the spot immediately. At some places, plainclothes police will be present along with uniformed personnel, watching for suspicious behaviour in the crowd.

AI technology is being used to examine CCTV footage. It is hoped this will help police identify suspicious activity in crowded areas. At markets, main roads and entry gates, it is difficult for police to watch every person directly. However, police investigation and human monitoring will remain crucial to confirm any activity.

A separate security plan has been made for Deekshabhoomi. Followers come here from Maharashtra, other states and abroad. Special attention will be paid to entry and exit routes, queues, crowd movement and traffic. Police will keep a special watch at Laxmi Nagar Chowk, Bajaj Nagar Chowk, Kachipura and Mata Kacheri Chowk. The plan provides for 71 officers, including two deputy commissioners of police, one assistant commissioner of police, 20 police inspectors and 40 sub-inspectors, along with about 600 police personnel in the premises. Reserve forces and plainclothes personnel will also be present.

About 450 police officers and staff will be deployed in the Dragon Palace area in Kamptee. Crowds, vehicle movement, parking and entry routes will be monitored there. Police will also be deployed around Samvidhan Chowk and Nagloke. With events at many places at the same time, police face the challenge of leaving no gaps, so coordination between officers at different locations will be essential.

The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) will have a role in checks at sensitive places, and dog squads may also be used to check suspicious items. Drone surveillance will follow permissions and safety rules. The intelligence wing will track information about possible sensitive activity. If a report of an unattended bag or unusual activity is received, the concerned team will investigate.

Crowd management is a key part of the security plan. Places with heavy crowd pressure will be identified and routes changed if needed. Preparations are also in place to move people to safety in an emergency and to keep a path open for ambulances. Police aim to ensure that elderly people, women, children and devotees with disabilities get the help they need.

Traffic arrangements on roads around the Sangh headquarters and monitoring of sensitive locations are planned for the Vijayadashami programme and route march held there.

On Vijayadashami, Ravan Dahan will be held at 64 places in the city, including four sites each in Wadi and Pardi. Events will also be held in areas such as Kasturchand Park, Tiranga Chowk, Nandanvan, Darshan Colony, Rajabaksha, Chopde Lawn, Manish Nagar, Manewada and Reshimbagh. Police arrangements are also planned for the immersion of 835 public Durga idols and Ghat immersion at 90 places.

Traffic police have also been given special responsibility. Vehicle movement may be temporarily changed where necessary. People are urged to follow police instructions, avoid parking needlessly near event venues and check traffic information before leaving home, to avoid jams.

Police have asked citizens to keep the peace, ignore rumours and report any suspicious object or activity to police immediately. If an unattended bag or suspicious item is seen, people should not try to check it themselves but inform the nearest police personnel or the police control room. They should be patient in crowds and follow the deployed police personnel.