In UP, cops tighten security at Devipatan

Religious shrines in Devipatan division of Uttar Pradesh are facing threat from extremists in Nepal. Sources in the Devipatan administration said that the Central and state Intelligence units have given inputs in the last six months about the Nepal Maoists8217; plan of 8220;some major8221; action at the prominent shrines of the division.

Devipatan revenue division and police range in eastern Uttar Pradesh shares about 200 kilometers of international border with Nepal. The division has some Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist shrines and the Government agencies are preparing a blueprint to provide a foolproof security cover to these, which include the Devipatan Shakti Peeth in Balrampur district, Dargaah of Sayyad Salaar Masood Ghazi in Bahraich district and eleven Buddhist shrines in Shrawasti.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Devipatan range, Sanjay M Tarade said a blueprint for the security of the major religious shrines in the Devipatan police range has been sent to the state Government for approval. He also said that the main reason behind the formulation of this security blueprint is the long and porous international border. He, however, denied any threat from the Maoist groups at Devipatan and called it a routine security arrangement. He refused to comment on the reason behind such a high-level security for the division.