UP deploys 52 special officers for Magh Purnima snan

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh govt has deployed a team of 52 special officers to oversee security, crowd management and law enforcement for the Magh Purnima snan on Feb 12. The deployment, directed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will remain in place until Feb 17.The team includes four IAS officers, four IPS officers, 25 PCS officers, 11 PPS officers and 8 non-gazetted police personnel. A senior home department official said the govt also assigned Ashish Kumar Goel, chairman of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), to report at the Maha Kumbh headquarters immediately to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the religious congregation.Among the IAS officers deployed are joint magistrate of Barabanki, Rallapalli Jagat Sai; joint magistrate of Aligarh, Shashwat Tripurari; and joint magistrate of Meerut, Kandarkar Kamalkishore Deshbhooshan. The IPS officers include DCP Kanpur Nagar Shrawan Singh, SP Anti-Corruption Laxmi Niwas Mishra, SP DGP Headquarters Rajdhari Chaurasiya and DN Chaudhary.Given the scale of the event, police are on high alert to prevent stampedes, criminal activities and potential threats. Kumbh Mela police have also issued strict directives to manage traffic, regulate entry points and enforce emergency response plans in case of any unforeseen incidents, a senior home officer added.