Govt’s security mantra for Puja celebrations
SHILLONG/TURA: As the Durga Puja festivities get underway, the state government has reiterated the need to have minimum police force but maximum efficiency to ensure peaceful celebrations.
“We prefer the least number of security personnel in and around Puja pandals, but what we require is the efficiency,” said Additional Chief Secretary P Naik, officiating on behalf of Chief Secretary Barkos Warjri, who is out of station.
According to Naik, since it is festival time, the forces should be minimum and their visibility should be least but effective in order to ensure people friendly policing.
While wishing the people of the state on the occasion of Durga Puja, Naik said, “We expect the Puja celebrations to culminate peacefully on Friday.”
The government has fixed the use of loud speakers till 10 pm during the celebrations, but prayers and other rituals associated with Puja can go beyond 10 pm without the use of loud speakers.
Meanwhile, in Tura, music accompanied by the beating of drums marked the beginning of the Durga Puja celebrations on Tuesday.
This year, a total of 23 Puja pandals were erected to observe the festivities. The Dalupara Puja pandal near Dobasipara Bus Stand is the newest Puja pandal, an addition of one more to last year’s total of 22.
The first day of celebrations kicked off towards the evening with people hurrying to their respective Puja pandals erected at different locations of the town to join in the festivities.
The festivities all across the five districts of Garo Hills are being monitored by the Central Puja Committee (CPC) so as to ensure a safe and incident free celebration. The District Administration has also beefed up security at vulnerable locations of the town so as to prevent any anti-social elements from disrupting the festivities.
As part of the celebrations, competitions in several categories like best Puja pandal, dhak competition etc will also be held.
Meanwhile, as a gesture of compassion to the poor of the town in the run up to the celebrations, old clothes were recently distributed to over 200 individuals by the Central Puja Committee (CPC).