PRAYAGRAJ: Policemen arriving from different parts of the state for the forthcoming
Magh Mela duties will also have to undergo antigen and
RT-PCR testing before joining mela duties.
Around 3,000 policemen from civil police and other wings of departments like ATS, STF,
para-military forces, SDRF, NDRF, BDDS, fire, anti-mines, traffic etc. would be arriving to the mela campus to perform duties from different parts of the state including Gorakhpur and Varanasi. Around 5,000 policemen from different wings would be deployed on mela campus to offer a foolproof security cover to pilgrims and devotees coming for a holy dip in the forthcoming Magh Mela. The mela is commencing from January 14 next year.
IG (
Prayagraj range) KP Singh told TOI, “We would be conducting antigen and RT-PCR test of police personnel arriving from different parts of the state for the Magh Mela duties.” He further added, “Police forces from different districts including Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Mahoba, Hamirpur, Banda, Chitrakoot, Varanasi and Gorakhpur would be arriving to perform duties at the forthcoming Magh Mela event.”
He, however, said that the antigen and RT -PCR testing of policemen coming from different parts of the state would help police authorities to check the spread of the disease and police officials would also be maintaining a strict watch on the testing and its outcome”.
Recently, the officials of the health department asked devotees wanting to perform kalpwas at the banks of river Ganga during the Magh Mela to bring along a negative RT-PCR test report with them to get an entry in the mela ground. The devotees will have to undergo a test every week during their month-long stay.
IG, meanwhile, said, “We would be taking all corrective measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 during the month long mela period and adequate health facilities would be offered to devotees, pilgrims and the staff on duty.” He added, “a network of 110 CCTV sets will be installed to maintain a close watch in every nook and corner of the mela campus.” He also said that mobile police teams and pickets would be deployed at all entry and exit points.