Only vegetarian and teetotaller cops to be deployed during Magh Mela

Prayagraj: To maintain the sanctity of 'Magh Mela,' it has been decided to deploy only vegetarian policemen, who also abstain from alcohol, besides giving preference to bilingual personnel.

'Magh Mela,' an annual event held in Prayagraj, will start from January 14, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Magh Mela Rajiv Narain Mishra told UNI, "Magh Mela is a major religious event, therefore, efforts are made that the conduct and the discipline of the personnel must be of high standards."

He said special attention is paid while deploying the personnel as pilgrims from all over the country visit Prayagraj during the mela period.

"Before the deployment, a segregation exercise is carried out, during which, field units, PAC and other wings like home guards and traffic police are informed before the deployment districts concerned," added the SSP.

Nearly 5,000 personnel, including those of civil police, PAC, paramilitary forces, home guards, traffic police and other units will be deployed during the magh mela.

The SSP said that the units have also been informed to deploy personnel, who are religious in nature and are willing to perform their duties diligently.

Besides, preference will be given to bilingual police personnel, who are fluent in Hindi and English.

"A large number of pilgrims, specially from South India, as well as tourists come to visit the place during mela. To ensure that there is no communication gap with non-Hindi speaking pilgrims or tourists, preference is given to bilingual personnel," Mishra said.

He said along with the mela campus, such personnel are generally deployed at central positions, like control rooms, so that the pilgrims and tourists can contact them with ease when needed.

On how it is cross-checked that the personnel deployed in mela duty do not indulge in indecent activities like drinking and consuming meat, the SSP said, "Generally, the mess arrangement is done centrally, where all personnel are required to eat together.

"In case a complaint of consuming alcohol by a personnel is received or such a case is detected, then not only appropriate action is taken, he is reverted back from the duty," he added.

Mishra said that as the mela duty is totally different from normal policing, behaviour training is also given to the personnel. As personnel from different forces come together, coordination between training is also given. (UNI)