45 CCTV cameras to keep vigil during Shivratri fair

Tribune News Service

Mandi, February 16

To keep a vigil over visitors’ activities during the week-long Shivratri fair in Mandi, the district police administration will install 45 CCTV (closed-circuit television) cameras at different key points in the town.

The functioning of cameras will be monitored from control rooms, which will be established at Paddal Ground, the city police station and the SP office.

The festival will begin on February 24 and conclude on March 2. Every year a large number of people visit here to have a glimpse of the traditional deity culture during the fair, where more than 200 deities congregate to pay obeisance to chief deity Madho Rai.

The district police have demanded extra police force from higher authorities to ensure that the law and order situation remains under control because during that time anti-social elements become active.

Around 1,200 police personnel and Home Guard jawans will be deployed to ensure round-the-clock tight security.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Mandi SP Prem Kumar Thakur said this year the town would be divided into seven sectors, where gazetted officials of DSP rank would be deployed as in-charge of each sector.

“We have constituted a police cell to nab pick-pockets because during a heavy rush such elements become active. To keep a close watch on offenders, around 45 CCTV cameras will be installed at key points in the town, out of which 20 cameras have already been installed,” he said.

The SP said a special force would be deployed for night patrolling for the safety of common people, especially women and girls.

He said the district police had made a strategy to maintain the law and order situation and regulate traffic. The police force would be deployed in the town on February 22 onwards up to March 4.