Uttar Pradesh enhances festival security with police units

Lucknow: Police in Uttar Pradesh are ramping up security at religious sites ahead of several major festivals. Special teams, called "Poster Party" units, will carry out early morning inspections to prevent incidents during this busy time. This decision came during a video conference led by the state's director general of police (DGP), Prashant Kumar. He also discussed plans for training over 60,000 newly hired constables. Proper training is crucial, as these recruits will join the largest police force in the world. With significant festivals like Alvida Namaz, Eid, and Ram Navami coming up, Kumar stressed the need for heightened security. District police chiefs have been tasked with identifying areas that might be at risk and deploying extra personnel there. Police will conduct flag marches in sensitive locations and increase their presence in crowded areas and religious events. Additional monitoring will take place along the state’s borders, with increased checks at checkpoints. Kumar urged police to take all disputes seriously to prevent them from escalating. Officials are also reviewing police records for past festival incidents to pinpoint high-risk areas. Coordination with religious leaders and community groups will be essential to maintain peace during the celebrations. Furthermore, the police will prepare anti-riot gear and crowd control measures. With social media's growing influence, police have been instructed to monitor for false information. Officials must act quickly to counter any misleading content that could lead to unrest.