One Jharkhand wedding and a security overhaul

Another contingent of the JAP and the traffic police accompanied the wedding procession comprising a cavalcade of more than 200 cars, jeeps and buses. The procession from Lagam covered about 20 km to reach Dibudih village — the venue of the marriage. Roads between Lagam and Dibudih were sealed and checkpoints put up at a dozen places.

Lagam’s days under the spotlight are not over yet, though. Mahato will host a reception party here on June 20 and the entire place has been lit up with electric bulbs. The Jharkhand State Electricity Board has ensured that Lagam and Dibudih get uninterrupted power supply. A huge pandal to accommodate 30,000 guests has been erected by a Kolkata-based decorator; the cooks and caterers are also expected from Kolkata.

The state road department has laid a smooth five-kilometre stretch between the state highway and Dibudih where a camp of the JAP forces has been set up. ‘‘This is perhaps the biggest security operation pressed into service to solemnise the wedding of a minister,’’ said a senior IPS officer.

Ranchi senior SP RK Mallick supervised the security set-up. Asked why so many securitymen were patrolling Lagam and Dibudih, he shot back: ‘‘Don’t you know these areas are Naxal-infested? After all, it is the wedding of the state’s Home Minister.’’