Security beefed up in wake of Rathyatra

SURAT, July 13: Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Surat by the police in the wake of the rathyatra that will be taken out by devotees of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the city on Wednesday afternoon. In addition, police presence and patrolling in all sensitive areas of the city has been intensified in a bid to avoid any untoward incident during the procession.

Three companies of State Reserve Police, 150 Home Guards and three companies of recruits from the Vadodara police force will assist more than 650 policemen of the city police force who have already been placed on high alert. In addition, 100 policemen of the city headquarters, headed by a ACP, have been marked out for additional duty, the city police special branch said.

According to information, more than 15,000 ISKCON devotees will take out the rathyatra, comprising horse and camel driven carts, vehicles and other decorated stages through most parts of the city.

Story continues below this ad

Beginning from the railway station at around 2 pm, the procession will pass through Una Pani Road, Cinema Road, Bhagal, Chowk, Makkai Pool, Nanpura, Athwa Circle and will end at the Ram Mandir at Majura Gate area later in the evening.

Among the officials who will man vehicles with wireless sets include four DCPs, 10 ACPs, 21 PIs and 55 PSIs of the city police. Thirty vehicles fitted with wireless sets, including Vajra’ — the riot control vehicle — will also be pressed into service, the police said.