PRAYAGRAJ: With the Kumbh Mela approaching, the Mehra police are busy dealing with a flood of applications from seers seeking security for themselves during the Kumbh Mela.
Mehra police officials admitted that before the start of the Kumbh Mela, around 1,500 police personnel, including 500 gunmen, will be assigned to famous seers and saints and armed guards will be provided to all prominent religious and spiritual organizations.
SSP (Kumbh Mela) Rajesh Dwivedi admitted to TOI that “the Mela police received numerous requests for additional police protection, including gunmen and home guards of saints associated with religious, spiritual and social organisations.”
However, he said, most saints who approach them have a self-assessed threat perception. Secondly, these organizations are also seeking more police personnel to manage crowds in their respective camps. Most of the pandas of famous prophets and saints are installing their own CCTV networks.
“We receive eight to 10 applications for seers seeking security cover every day,” said a senior police officer in Mela. He added, “All applications are forwarded to the relevant police and the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) for investigation.” Clarify threat awareness and submit reports accordingly,” he added.
“If LIU believes that the threat perception is genuine, armed security personnel will be provided to the applicant. To date, more than 70 prominent saints, including secretaries and heads of all 13 akaras, have been assigned as gunmen,” SSP said.
The mahants, mahamandleshwars and secretaries of all 13 akharas are provided with security guards. Apart from the gunmen, five armed police personnel have been assigned to each of the 13 akhara to ensure security.
Meanwhile, the SSP said lesser-known organizations usually seek at least two to four home guards to manage the devotees who come seeking blessings. saint and safety A senior intelligence official noted, “Since 2007, there has been a trend of prophets and saints seeking security just to show off their influence to their followers. Even without real security, they want commandos and Armed police protection.
However, he claimed, “The police have also received several requests, among which the Saints have specifically requested that security personnel be equipped with wireless devices for crowd management in their pandal areas.”
A saint associated with the famous Akala noted, “What is the problem if a saint seeks security cover? A large number of people visit Akala, religious and spiritual camps and we cannot read the intention of every visitor. If there is security around personnel, people with questionable intentions may stay away.”
