Lucknow. In Uttar Pradesh, the police and administration have made extensive security arrangements to ensure that the festivals of Dhanteras, Diwali, Govardhan Puja, Bhai Dooj, and Chhath are celebrated peacefully. Under the directives of the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), Rajeev Krishna, 34 companies and one platoon of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been allocated across 45 police commissionerates, districts, and Government Railway Police (GRP) jurisdictions. Security measures will be strengthened in crowded markets, religious sites, riverfront ghats, and key public spaces during the festive period. Additional police forces have been deployed, with special attention given to the ‘Deepotsav-2026’ in Ayodhya and the ‘Diwali Amavasya Mela’ in Chitrakoot.
DGP Rajeev Krishna has instructed all Police Commissioners, Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs) to ensure there is no negligence in maintaining law and order during the festivals. He has directed officers to remain highly vigilant in their respective jurisdictions and to keep a close watch on sensitive areas.
The PAC personnel allocated by the Police Headquarters will be deployed based on local conditions and specific requirements. Additional personnel will be stationed at major markets, religious sites, prayer venues (pandals), riverfront ghats, railway stations, and other public areas. Furthermore, instructions have been issued to increase foot patrols in sensitive zones and for police officers to remain actively mobile in their assigned areas.
A large influx of shoppers is expected in markets during Dhanteras and Diwali—particularly in jewelry markets, electronics stores, textile markets, and other major commercial hubs. In these locations, the police will prioritize both security arrangements and traffic management.
The administration aims to ensure that citizens face no inconvenience while shopping or traveling during the festive season. To this end, additional police personnel will be deployed along major routes, and traffic arrangements may be adjusted if necessary. According to the force allocation issued by the Police Headquarters, two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been assigned to each of the Lucknow and Varanasi Police Commissionerates. Ayodhya and Aligarh have also been allocated two PAC companies each. Meanwhile, districts including Kanpur, Prayagraj, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bareilly, Moradabad, Azamgarh, and Gorakhpur have been provided with one PAC company each.
Additionally, further forces have been arranged for Agra, Saharanpur, Mathura, Mirzapur, and other regions based on their specific requirements. Special security arrangements have been made for areas hosting religious events, such as Chitrakoot and Mau.
Ayodhya will be the primary focus of the security arrangements. Extensive preparations have been made for the ‘Deepotsav-2026’ event in the city of Lord Shri Ram, which is expected to draw a large number of devotees and tourists.
To ensure that the Deepotsav in Ayodhya is conducted safely and in an organized manner, seven Additional Superintendents of Police, 20 Deputy Superintendents of Police, 27 Inspectors, and 70 Sub-Inspectors have been deployed. Furthermore, 14 female Sub-Inspectors, 300 head constables and constables, and 25 female constables will also be part of the security apparatus.
During the Deepotsav, assistance from various specialized security agencies will be utilized for crowd management, traffic control, and handling emergency situations. In addition to the PAC, teams from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), National Security Guard (NSG), and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have also been deployed.
Special surveillance will be maintained at key religious sites, event venues, and along the routes used by devotees in Ayodhya. The primary challenge for the administration will be to ensure the safe and orderly movement of the large influx of devotees to the event venues.
To address this, the police force has been deployed at designated locations, with a strong emphasis on crowd control and emergency response mechanisms. Security officials have been instructed to ensure that devotees do not face any unnecessary inconvenience during the event.
Meanwhile, special security arrangements have been made in Chitrakoot in view of the ‘Deepavali Amavasya’ fair. Anticipating a large influx of devotees, three companies and two platoons of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed.
In Chitrakoot, additional Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) along with traffic police personnel will be stationed. To handle any suspicious objects or emergency situations, a bomb disposal squad, two anti-sabotage check teams, and a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team have been made available.
Furthermore, to ensure smooth traffic flow, two Deputy Superintendents of Police, four traffic sub-inspectors, and 40 traffic police personnel have been assigned duty.
The Director General of Police (DGP) has also issued directives to keep the local intelligence network active. Instructions have been given to take immediate, necessary action upon receiving information regarding any suspicious activity in sensitive areas.
The police will also maintain a close watch on religious events, processions, and public gatherings during the festive period. Relevant officials have been tasked with coordinating with the organizers to ensure robust security arrangements.
The police administration has emphasized the need to remain vigilant against rumors and misleading information circulating on social media. Officials have been instructed to immediately address any information that could potentially disrupt peace and order.
