Hyderabad Police step up Bonalu security, deploy specialised forces and SHE Teams
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar on Tuesday directed officials to make elaborate security arrangements for Bonalu festival, with specialised police units, SHE Teams and
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar on Tuesday directed officials to make elaborate security arrangements for Bonalu festival, with specialised police units, SHE Teams and traffic personnel set to be deployed across major temples to ensure peaceful conduct of celebrations. Reviewing the security preparations through a video conference with senior officers, he said the festival, scheduled to be held from July 16 to August 13, would draw large crowds at temples including Golconda, Balkampet, Secunderabad Ujjaini Mahankali and Lal Darwaza.
He instructed officials to implement proactive security measures based on the expected footfall at each venue. The Hyderabad police will deploy personnel from the Task Force, Rapid Action Force, City Armed Reserve, Quick Reaction Teams and local police units to prevent any untoward incidents. Public address systems will also be installed around temple premises to assist in crowd management and communicate important information to devotees. Special emphasis has been placed on the safety of women devotees.
Police said SHE Teams will maintain continuous surveillance during the festivities to prevent harassment and other crimes. Officials noted that 644 persons were caught for harassing women during previous Bonalu celebrations and said similar intensive monitoring would continue this year. Traffic police have been instructed to implement comprehensive traffic regulation plans around temple areas to ensure the smooth movement of devotees. Adequate personnel will also be deployed along Bonalu processions, Potharaju performances and Ghatam processions to ensure they pass off without incident.
The review meeting was attended by Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order, South Zone) Tafseer Iqbal, DCP (Administration) Venkatalakshmi and Additional DCP S.B. Narasimha Rao in person, while senior law and order, traffic and crime officers from across the city participated through video conference.
The BriefWire