CURATED BY – GAURAV SINGHAL | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Saharanpur, District Magistrate Manish Bansal and Senior Superintendent of Police Rohit Singh Sajwan jointly chaired a meeting in the new auditorium located in the Collectorate with Holika Suraksha Samiti, procession organizers, religious leaders and officials of Peace Committee, elite citizens and district administration and police officials to celebrate the upcoming Holi festival in a peaceful and harmonious manner and sought suggestions from dignitaries. District Magistrate Manish Bansal told the dignitaries present that the festival should be celebrated peacefully while maintaining communal harmony during the festivals so that Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb remains intact in the district. While instructing the Sub-District Magistrates and Deputy Superintendents of Police present, he said that all the officers should visit their respective areas and get complete information about Holika installation so that if there is a dispute, then the problem can be resolved by mutual coordination and persuasion with the people. He said that in view of Holi, magistrates and police officers should be deployed in different areas to monitor the peace and law and order situation. He said that under no circumstances obscene and provocative songs should be played on DJ. He instructed that meetings should also be held at the police station level. Lineman and JE should also be called in the meeting organized at the police station level. DM Manish Bansal said that all SDMs and Police Circle Officers should hold inter-departmental meetings with departmental officers and ensure arrangements for electricity, water, and cleanliness during the festivals. Followers of all religions should celebrate festivals in a traditional manner, no one is allowed to start a new tradition. He appealed to the people of the district to celebrate the festival happily while respecting each other's faith. He said not to use chemical colors. Liquor shops will remain closed on the day of the festival and raids should be conducted on the shops selling, storing and selling poisonous and illegal liquor. In the meeting, the suggestions of the dignitaries were taken into consideration and assurance was given to resolve them. The Food Safety Officer was directed to inspect the shops by forming teams to prevent adulteration in khoya, sweets, namkeen, oil, spices and other food items in view of the festivals. A campaign should be run to make the city roads encroachment free. He said that even the smallest incidents should be resolved effectively so that no major dispute arises. While giving instructions to the Additional Municipal Commissioner and Executive Officers, he said that in view of the upcoming festivals, it should be ensured that the roads are kept clean and tidy.

While giving instructions to the officials of the Electricity Department, he said that in order to maintain uninterrupted power supply around the Holika Dahan, instructions were given to immediately replace the dilapidated hanging wires and damaged transformers. In this regard, the concerned Sub-District Magistrate was instructed to inspect it.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Mr. Rohit Singh Sajwan said that strict action would be taken against mischievous elements or those who unauthorisedly disturb the festival. He said that the people of the district should introduce the Ganga-Jamuni culture and civilization by celebrating the festival safely with traditions while following the rules. He directed that the Holi procession should be taken out as per the prescribed standards and Holika Dahan should be done only at the pre-determined place. He said that on the occasion of the festival, the district and police administration have made all the preparations to maintain peace and law and order in the district and to celebrate the festival in a harmonious environment. However, an appeal is made to the dignitaries of the area to also provide their cooperation in celebrating the festival in a peaceful and harmonious manner and also inspire the children of the younger generation to celebrate the festival in a harmonious manner. Misleading news should not be sent on social media, Twitter, Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagram. He appealed to the concerned religious leaders and the elite people of the society to immediately inform about those who disturb the law and order situation in the district and those who spread rumors on social media so that strict action can be taken against them and untoward incidents can be prevented.
In the meeting of the peace committee, talks were held with the CO and the police station in-charges regarding the place of Holika Dahan, traditional procession route and sensitive places etc. All the police station in-charges said that there is no dispute of any kind in their area regarding Holi installation. Along with maintaining special cleanliness in the Municipal Corporation and Body areas, ensure uninterrupted electricity and water supply.
All the elite persons assured that this city is a city of peace and tranquility. The police and administration will not receive any complaint regarding any kind of disorder. On this occasion, Additional District Magistrate Administration Dr Archana Dwivedi, Additional District Magistrate Finance and Revenue Rajneesh Kumar Mishra, SP Rural Sagar Jain, SP Traffic Siddharth Verma along with all SDMs, Police Circle Officer, Police Station Head, Electricity, PWD, Municipal Body, Chief Warden of Intelligence and Civil Defence Rajesh Jain, Jayanath Sharma, Sheetal Tandon, Brit Chawla, Deputy Controller Civil Defence Kashmira Singh along with elite citizens of all religions were present.