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Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS) As part of preparations for the Diwali festival, an elaborate security apparatus has been deployed in the northern districts of Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai to prevent any untoward incident and ensure smooth celebrations.
Over 3,500 police personnel have been deployed in major cities including Vellore, Arcot, Arakkonam, Ambur, Tiruvannamalai, Cheyyar and Vandavasi.
Vellore Range Deputy Inspector General of Police G. Following Dharmarajan’s instructions, special measures have been imposed at major public places such as markets, theatres, shopping streets and festival hotspots.
The focus is on maintaining law and order, managing traffic flow at busy intersections and preventing petty crimes such as theft and chain-snatching.
Police teams of law and order, crime, traffic, armed reserves, Tamil Nadu Special Police and Home Guards are working round the clock at identified busy spots in towns and big villages.
About 85 vehicle check posts, including inter-district borders, have been set up to keep track of vehicle movement and ensure safe transportation of goods. To strengthen surveillance, all district headquarters are operating control rooms to track closed-circuit television (CCTV) feeds, monitor suspicious activity and trace missing persons.
Additional CCTV cameras have been installed in crowd-prone areas like Vellore, Gudiyatham, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Arakkonam and Tiruvannamalai, while drone cameras are monitoring Tiruvannamalai town due to the huge rush of devotees at the Arunachaleshwar temple.
Railway stations have also been brought under strict surveillance. Intensive checking is being done on trains and stations to prevent illegal transportation of firecrackers and ensure passenger safety.
Mobile X-ray baggage scanner vehicles have been deployed at Katpadi, Arakkonam, Tiruvannamalai and Jolarpet.
The police are also deploying advanced technology such as Facial Recognition System (FRS) mobile app to identify known criminals in real time, along with maintaining coordination through district-level WhatsApp networks.
Regular patrolling is being done using four-wheelers and motorcycles to maintain visibility and quick response. In view of the festival rush, women have been advised to beware of chain-snatchers and scarves are being distributed at major shopping centers as a precautionary measure.
Emergency response units including ambulances and fire and rescue service teams are deployed at key locations to deal with any situation during the festive season.
–IANS
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