Security has been tightened across Jharkhand ahead of Ram Navami, which will be celebrated on Sunday, officials said.
Police commissioners from all districts have been ordered to be vigilant during the festival, they said.
Adequate security forces have been deployed in sensitive districts such as Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Giridih, Chatra and Hazaribag, an officer from police headquarters said.
Districts have been asked to install CCTV cameras at strategic locations for better surveillance, he said.
In the state capital, Ranchi, police have been holding flag parades since Friday, he added.
Security has been further tightened in the town after two men were beaten in Karbala Chowk on Friday and their bikes set on fire, the officer said.
“The district administration closely monitors the Ram Navami celebrations. Any disbeliever who intends to disturb the public peace will be punished strictly legally. I call on the people of the capital to observe the festival peacefully,’ Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Chhavi Ranjan told PTI.
Security was also tightened in Khunti after Kendriya Ram Navami Mahasamiti announced he would hold a procession, officials said.
A violent clash between two communities was recently reported in the district.
Lohardaga Deputy Commissioner Waghmare Prasad Krishna said civilian and police officers have been dispatched to all strategic locations.
Magistrates have been urged to take stern action if necessary to maintain peace in the town of Lohardaga, he said.
Hazaribag Deputy Commissioner Nancy Sahay instructed the puja committees to follow guidelines issued by the state government. The administration also declared dry days from April 10 to 12.
Restraining orders have been imposed in Gumla sub-division. It will be in effect until April 12, an official said.
Palamu Deputy Commissioner Jatashankar Choudhary said the Ram Navami processions will be monitored using drones and CCTV cameras.
The state government has extended the time for processions till 10 p.m. in view of requests from various committees and political parties of Ram Navami puja. The number of people allowed in a procession was limited to 100.
(This story has not been edited by the Devdiscourse team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
