Motihari: With the beginning of the wedding season, East Champaran superintendent of police (SP) Swarn Prabhat has made deputation of police force compulsory in the areas where venues are located to prevent celebratory firing, playing of abusive songs and any other untoward incident. Besides, residents can seek personal police protection at their homes or the wedding venues from the local police stations.
TOI too published a story on Monday, highlighting how celebratory firing at weddings, influenced by "desi music", has been keeping the state police on toes.
Prabhat said that several people had approached him as well the local police stations seeking protection on wedding day. "Some of them expressed apprehensions about troubles from their enemies. In fact, incidents of hooliganism are not uncommon during weddings in the district," he said.
Last Saturday itself, three people were arrested on National Highway-28 while they were dancing with arms in a wedding party. A video of the same had gone viral on social media. The police also seized two pistols and live cartridges from their possessions.
For those seeking protection, police have released an application format, including on social media. Residents can collect the application forms from respective police stations or download it online. After filling it up, they have to submit it to the local police stations. After receiving the applications, police will be deployed at the wedding venues concerned.
A large numbers of residents have filed applications for police protection at their homes during weddings this week. In the last five days, since the beginning of the current wedding season, more than three dozen applications for police protection have been received by Dhaka, Patahi, Sugauli Chakiya, Banjariya and Motihari mufassil police stations, according to sources.
The decision has been welcomed by common people, not just in towns but remote villages as well.
Amrendra Kumar of Kundawa Chainpur said he sought police protection on the day of a wedding in his family this month. "I felt it was necessary as often outsiders join the wedding procession and start celebratory firing."
Rabindra Singh of Dhaka was happy that he was provided with police protection during a wedding in his family. "The marriage was solemnized peacefully without any hindrance by antisocial elements."
Besides, police patrolling has been intensified in the areas where weddings are being held.