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RAF deployed at Kumbh Mela to prevent violence

The Rapid Action Force has been deployed at sensitive places in the Kumbh Mela area to prevent recurrence of incidents like the clash on March 28 between the sadhus of two akharas.

The security measures have also been thoroughly reviewed, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Meerut zone) R C Sharma told reporters in Hardwar today.

''We have started efforts to build up a peaceful atmosphere so that the lakhs of pilgrims expected for the holy bath are protected,'' said Shaharanpur DIG, Y K Gupta, who was also present at the press conference along with Hardwar Senior Superintendent of Police Bhavesh Kumar and mela officer J P Sharma.

They blamed the insistence of the sadhus of the 'Juna' akhara to bathe first as having led to the melee on the occasion of the second shahi snan. Sharma complimented the police for ''not losing patience and resorting to unnecessary action''.

''We could control the situation without using severe force, and thus prevent a stampede which could have killed or seriously hurt the people,'' he said, adding that the injured policemen would be compensated with Rs 30,000 and will be provided with free medical aid.

Gupta said criminal cases have been registered against seven persons include a Mayapur police officer. They have been charged with attempt to murder, looting cash, gold, silver and an idol worth Rs 2.5 million, besides assaulting some naga sanyasis.

UNI

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