Puja, Friday prayers coincide, 8k cops to be on roads in Gzb

Ghaziabad: Police are on high alert for Friday prayers, with over 8,000 personnel deployed at various locations across the district to maintain law and order.
To conduct it peacefully, all police offices will be closed on Friday. The offices will be closed so that the force can be used to maintain law and order.
On Friday, Mahashtami, Navami and the Friday prayers coincide.
Several protests took place in different parts of Ghaziabad following priest Yati Narasinghanand Giri's controversial statements about a particular faith.
Several religious groups and their supporters staged protests across the district.
On Saturday, Ghaziabad authorities imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, restricting unauthorised gatherings and protests.
Commissioner of police Ajay Kumar Mishra said that the police administration has become strict due to a comment on the faith of a particular community and the "subsequent change in the communal atmosphere in Ghaziabad".
"We have formed 251 QRTs and 16 platoons of PAC, all armed, which have already been deployed at sensitive and other places to maintain law and order. Drone deployment, special watch on those localities with closed business establishments and eye on all troublemakers are among the measures taken, while no procession is being allowed. Heavy police force will be deployed outside mosques and other religious places as all police offices will remain closed," he said.
"Police are also conducting peaceful meetings with all religious pandits and important persons. We will not allow any type of gathering on Friday and the upcoming days," Mishra said.
On Friday, protests took place against Narasinghanand after a video went viral on social media. The video, allegedly shot on Sept 29 in Lohia Nagar, features controversial remarks made by him.
The protesters in Ghaziabad as well as Aligarh and Bulandshahr demanded action against the Dasna temple priest for alleged anti-Muslim sentiments and hate speech. Some of the protesters had thrown stones at the Dasna temple and had tried to harm him.
Police have lodged 20 FIRs in the matter in different police stations across the district and arrested over a dozen people for creating violence.
A mahapanchayat has been scheduled for Oct 13 at Dasna temple by Hindu people.
A close associate of the priest said that around 36 different castes of Hindus will be participating in the mahapanchayat.
Further action will be taken as the "Muslim community has tried to damage the Dasna temple", he said. However, the commissioner of police said that cops would not allow any type of gathering.