IN ADDITION to implementing comprehensive measures to ensure the smooth conduct of rituals for the final holy bath on Maha Shivratri (February 26) at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj, where a massive crowd is expected, the Uttar Pradesh government has also deployed several senior IPS officers to oversee security arrangements and ensure effective execution of the plan on the ground. These officers, previously holding key positions in various police units in Lucknow, have been assigned to strengthen coordination and crowd management, ensuring a safe and orderly pilgrimage experience for devotees. UP Director General of Police, Prashant Kumar, told The Indian Express that the senior officers deployed in Prayagraj have been assigned specific responsibilities for traffic and crowd management. They have been given charge of key routes leading to the city to ensure smooth movement and security. Earlier, the government would deploy Additional Superintendent of Police-rank officers from various districts and police units for special occasions such as holy snan and when pilgrim movement is high. In most cases, these officers would return to their respective postings once the need was completed. However, this time, the government has sent four Additional Director Generals of Police (ADG) and five Inspector Generals of Police (IGP) to Prayagraj to oversee and strengthen the management of the event. Among these senior IPS officers are ADGs Sujeet Pandey, K Satya Narayan, Padmaja Chauhan and Nilabja Choudhury, while IGPs Ashutosh Kumar, Modak Rajesh D Rao, Preetinder Singh, Chandra Prakash and Manzil Saini have also been deployed, said a police officer. He added besides ADGs and IGs rank officers, four Superintendent of Police (SPs), seven Additional Superintendent of Police (ASPs) and 20 DSP rank officers have also been sent. These officers are in addition to the police personnel already posted at the Kumbh. A senior police officer said that along with IPS officers, 33 Additional Superintendents of Police and 105 Deputy Superintendents of Police were deployed at Kumbh.
