Patna: As many as 21 temporary police stations and nine watchtowers have been set up at the world-famous Harihar Kshetra Sonepur Mela in Saran district, where 104 police officers and 551 other personnel have been deployed.
In addition to the district police force, 235 officers, over 800 security personnel and 800 home guards from the Bihar Police headquarters have also been deployed. Besides, a total of 70 SDRF/NDRF personnel, divided in three teams, have been deployed in the river areas, police said.
Director general (DG) of Bihar Police headquarters (PHQ), Jitendra Singh Gangwar, said the security arrangements for the grand Sonepur cattle fair is a challenge as lakhs of people visit the place. “The Bihar Police has made arrangements for CCTV cameras, videography, metal detectors and anti-sabotage checking at key locations on the routes and within the fairground.”
The annual fair, organised near Hariharnath Temple at the confluence of Gandak and Ganga rivers in Sonepur, began on November 13 and will conclude on December 14. A large number of people come to bathe at the confluence on the day of Kartik Purnima, which fell on Friday this year.
“In addition to the security forces already deployed, an additional company of Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) was deployed for the sacred holy bath ritual. Moreover, three companies of BSAP were assigned for security in Patna, besides the district police, on the occasion,” said Gangwar.