GUWAHATI, April 12 - With Rongali Bihu round the corner, the Assam Police is gearing up to ensure peaceful celebration of the spring festival. The superintendents of police of all the districts have been directed to ensure adequate deployment of forces in the Bihu pandals so that no miscreant can indulge in any antisocial activity.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Kula Saikia told The Assam Tribune that adequate precautionary measures have been taken to ensure peaceful celebration of the Rongali Bihu. He pointed out that normally petty crimes like snatching, eve teasing, etc., take place in the crowded places during the Bihu celebrations, while there have also been instances of unruly behavior by certain sections of people in the pandals.
To deal with such issues, all the SPs have been directed to ensure adequate deployment of police personnel in the crowded places, particularly in and around the Bihu pandals. If necessary, police personnel in plain clothes will also be deployed, while wherever possible, adequate number of women police personnel will also be posted.
Saikia said that as the Bihu functions continue till late in the night, patrolling on the highways and other roads would be intensified to ensure that people can return home safely after enjoying cultural programmes. He admitted that drink driving is a menace during such celebrations and the police personnel have been directed to take strict action as per law against persons involved in drink driving.
He said all the districts would be divided into different sectors and senior officers of the Assam Police would be in charge of such sectors. They would carry out regular patrolling in the areas assigned to them to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
The SPs of all the districts have been directed to keep in touch with the organisers of Bihu functions. All the Bihu celebration committees have also been asked to deploy adequate number of volunteers to help the police in controlling crowds. The Bihu committees have also been asked to make adequate lighting arrangements.
While greeting the people of the State on the occasion of Rongali Bihu, the Special DGP called upon the people to celebrate the Assamese New Year festival with traditional gaiety and assured that the Assam Police would be always with all sections of people to ensure peaceful celebrations.
