Bareilly: District Magistrate Avinash Singh and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anurag Arya chaired a high-level coordination meeting to review law and order, traffic management, and civic preparations for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra during the holy month of Shravan and the annual Urs-e-Ala Hazrat celebrations.
The meeting, held at Pandit Radheshyam Kathavachak Smriti Bhavan, brought together senior administrative and police officials, public representatives, and local residents to discuss security measures and address civic concerns before the two major religious events.
During the interaction, residents highlighted several infrastructure issues requiring immediate attention. These included overgrown trees entangling electricity lines near the Roadways bus station, damaged roads on Mohanpur Road near Rathore Chakki, potholes along the Lal Phatak bridge service roads, the deteriorated stretch in front of Tapeshwar Nath Temple, and the relocation of a transformer obstructing the road leading to Vankhandi Nath Temple. Officials were directed to ensure the prompt resolution of these issues.
Addressing the gathering, District Magistrate Avinash Singh stressed that no new traditions or processions should be introduced during the Kanwar Yatra. He directed that the height of DJ systems, including mounted vehicles, should not exceed 12 feet to ensure public safety and avoid interference with overhead power lines. He instructed municipal bodies, including the Municipal Corporation, Municipal Council, and Panchayati Raj Department, to undertake extensive cleanliness drives along pilgrimage routes and repair damaged roads under their respective jurisdictions.
The District Magistrate also directed departments to remove hanging electrical wires, relocate transformers obstructing routes, clean drains in view of the monsoon season, and ensure that organisers of community food camps maintain cleanliness by properly collecting and disposing of waste.
SSP Anurag Arya called upon citizens and organisers to uphold the spirit of communal harmony and cooperate with the administration in maintaining peace. He reiterated that Kanwar processions must strictly follow traditional routes and organisers should inform the concerned police stations before taking out any procession. He instructed that DJs should not play songs capable of hurting religious sentiments and warned people against believing or spreading rumours, particularly through social media.
The SSP announced that police personnel would visit every village in the coming days to gather details about Kanwar groups, including their strength, travel routes, and schedules. A dedicated police inspector and constable will be assigned as nodal officers for each Kanwar group to facilitate coordination and security.
He further directed that damaged or uprooted trees posing risks be removed, open transformers and hanging power lines be secured, and dangerous stunts on roads be dealt with strictly. Organisers of Kanwar camps were instructed to set up camps on the left side of roads, avoid placing Kanwar stands on carriageways, ensure adequate fire safety measures, issue identity cards to volunteers, install CCTV cameras, and provide separate toilet facilities for women.
The SSP also instructed organisers hiring DJs from outside the district to inform the local police in advance and made it clear that no non-traditional activities would be permitted during the religious events. He warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb peace or law and order.
Among those present at the meeting were Chief Development Officer Devyani, Joint Magistrate and SDM Bahedi Ishita Kishore, Additional District Magistrates Purnima Singh, Santosh Kumar Singh, Avinash Tripathi, and Desh Deepak, Superintendent of Police (City) Manush Parik, SP (South) Anshika Verma, SP (North) Mukesh Chandra Mishra, all Sub-Divisional Magistrates, Circle Officers, and other senior officials.
Report by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
