Mahashivratri celebrations amid tight security in UP

Lucknow: On the occasion of Mahashivratri, a huge crowd of devotees has gathered in the Shiva temples of Uttar Pradesh since midnight. On this occasion, there is a huge crowd of devotees especially in Kashi Vishwanath Temple of Varanasi and Mankameshwar Temple of Lucknow. Heavy police deployment has been made in cities and towns like Varanasi, Barabanki and Baghpat, where Kanwariyas gather in large numbers. UP Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar said special security arrangements have been made on Kanwar routes and major Shiva temples in Varanasi, Lucknow, Barabanki and Baghpat. Additionally, a large number of police personnel including superintendents, sub-superintendents, sub-inspectors, head constables and constables along with traffic police and bomb disposal squads have been deployed to maintain order and security.
In Lucknow, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Upendra Kumar Aggarwal said that additional police forces have been deployed to maintain security and proper traffic around 26 major temples including Budheshwar Mahadev Temple, Mankameshwar Mahadev Temple in Lucknow. . DGP has deployed 241 companies of security personnel in sensitive districts. These companies include personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). “Special attention is being given to the security of Kanwar routes and major Shiva temples in key areas like Varanasi, Barabanki and Baghpat,” the DGP said. To ensure safety during Jalabhishek, vigil has been increased on the river banks.