UP seeks security beef up for Kumbh mela

LUCKNOW, DEC 26: Uttar Pradesh Government has sought the help of army and airforce to beef up security cover for the first `Mahakumbh' of ...

LUCKNOW, DEC 26: Uttar Pradesh Government has sought the help of army and airforce to beef up security cover for the first `Mahakumbh’ of the millennium to be held next month in Allahabad in view of spurt in militant activities.

The Kumbh Mela incharge and state’s Urban Development Minister Lalji Tandon told newsmen here today that foolproof security arrangements have been made in and around the mela area in view of the militants threat.

Tandon, who visited the mela site on Sunday last to review the preparation for the function beginning January 9, said the possiblility of militants strike specially after the recent shoot-out in Red Fort in Delhi was also discussed.

Story continues below this ad

Ten anti-mine teams of the army, two air force helicopters and 12 commando teams would be deployed in the area, he said.

About a dozen anti-sabotage teams, sniffer dogs and four bomb disposal squads would be pressed into service, Tandon said adding close circuit TVs would be installed to keep a round the clock track of all the activities in the mela area.

This would be the first time that aerial surveillance would be carried out as a precautionary measure, he said.

Meanwhile, the Kumbh Mela Adhikari Jeevesh Nandan and SSP Alok Sharma said security has been tightened and about 90 per cent work relating to the mela has been completed.