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Hailakandi, Oct 11: Police will take stringent measures to control the use of illicit liquor and trade and gambling during the four days Durga Puja festival in Hailakandi, informing this in a press conference here on Monday, the Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Upadhyay said that they have already launched a helpline number to receive liquor and gambling related complaints from general people. The helpline number is 6026900975.
Though the district administration has already declared dry days on October 14 and 15, the police will remain vigilant throughout the district to find out the illegal liquor traders and drunks, Upadhyay added. He said that their primary target is to check crime during the festival and for this, all the organizers have been asked to install CCTV in puja pandals. There will be traffic restrictions in the town and no entry will be imposed.
The deputy commissioner of Hailakandi, Rohan Jha said that no person will be allowed to visit the pandals if not vaccinated even with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine at least. He said that the SoP issued by the state government will be adhered to very strictly and the movement of people will be restricted at 9 pm. Major puja pandals will have the vaccination facilities and all the organizers have been asked to keep the system of thermal screening and sanitization. Jha said that the immersion procession will not be allowed and the site will be vaccinated repeatedly. Besides, no mela, fairs etc shall be organised by the puja committees and no cultural functions will be allowed before, during and after the puja days.
Durga puja will be low key affairs here due to the restrictions imposed by the administration, said an organizer. SP Upadhyay informed that there are 325 barowari pujas in the district.