Independence Day: Over 2,000 cops on duty

PATNA: Around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed on the streets of Patna, including 900 in and around the Gandhi Maidan, for the Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday, said Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj.The state police headquarters has provided 1,000 additional police personnel for deployment across the state capital and Bihar Military Police-I (BMP) personnel have also been roped in for intensive checking at sensitive points, he said and added that security personnel in civvies would keep an eye on the movements around Mahavir Temple and Jama Masjid near Patna Junction, Takhat Shri Harimandir Ji Patna Saheb and hotels and lodges in the city.Gandhi Maidan remained out of bounds for common man on Sunday. The entry would be restricted till Tuesday evening. Visitors would be allowed to enter the maidan after 6am on August 15.City SP (central) D Amarkesh said several quick response teams (QRT) of CRPF, state police’s special task force (STF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) would also be deployed at important locations. “All security personnel were deployed at their pre-determined positions on Sunday morning. They were also briefed about their responsibilities,” he said.Police have been conducting intensive vehicle checking at the entry and exit points of the district for the past few days. Raids were also conducted on hotels near the railway stations and bus stops.District public relation officer Ravi Bhushan Sahay, through a press release, said seven types of cards with different colour codes have been issued for entry of VVIPs, government officials, press personnel and freedom fighters. Gate number 12 and 13 would be for women visitors while gate number 4, 6, 7 and 8 would be for common people. VVIPS entry is reserved from gate number 10, he said.Traffic movement of commercial and private vehicles would remain controlled while commercial vehicles would not be allowed in the city beyond certain points from Tuesday morning.