THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, September 18: Palamu administration is making a zero-flaw arrangement for the pandals, immersion and Ravan Dahan in the Durga Puja.
The Jharkhand Story correspondent on Thursday spoke to the Palamu Superintendent of Police (SP) Reeshma Ramesan to know how the Palamu police are to go about the maintenance of peace and harmony in the Durga Puja.
There were 579 Puja pandals in Palamu in the year 2024. However, the number of Puja pandals has gone up in 2025.
Here are the excerpts of the conversation with the SP Reeshma Ramesan.
Q: How many Puja pandals are in this Durga Puja?
SP: It’s 680 Puja pandals. 95 of them are licensed ones. Our Chainpur police station limits will find a new Puja pandal this festival.
Q: Immersion of idols is done in days as Dussehra is on October 2, but immersion of idols goes beyond this date?
SP: On the day of Dussehra, October 2, there will be 382 Visarjans. Similarly, 277 immersions on October 3. It will end on October 4, but by then the number of Visarjan will be fewer.
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Q: Will Puja Pandals have an emergency numbers poster in it?
SP: It’s compulsory. The Puja pandals organisers are to have a poster with dial 112, phone numbers of officer in charge of the respective police station, the inspector and the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) etc. There can’t be any laxity in it.
Q: Any Bond Down of shady and dubious characters?
SP: Yes. Very much. We have sent a proposal for bonding down of 1,273 people to the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDM) as SDM is the competent authority to secure bonding down. This is in the backdrop of the 65 non-FIRs lodged.
Q: Police Help Desk in Puja pandals?
SP: Big Puja Pandals, which are a big drawee of the devotees will be having a police help desk, space and furniture for it to come from the Puja Pandals’ organisers.
Q: Woman cops at the Puja Pandals?
SP: We don’t have too many lady cops but we will be putting lady cops in places where the footfall of the woman devotees is enormous.
Q: Ravan Dahan is a huge crowd puller. What will be for crowd management and anti-stampede measures?
SP: Ravan Dahan is prominently done at two places, Parwa and Daltonganj. Here, there will be adequate crowd management and anti-stampede measures.
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Q: People just throw caution to the wind during the cultural bonanza. How to stop it?
SP: Such is the excitement that spectators of the cultural gala climb up either the pole of the transformer or mobile tower if it’s any around. No. This time no such aberration. Such a rapture won’t be allowed. Remember Balumath where spectators of a Bhojpuri song and music bonanza climbed up a mobile tower. Such a misadventure will be dealt with severely by the administration.
Q: Barricading and fire tender?
SP: There will be suitable and 360-degree barricading. But there will not be any obstructiveness. Our measures are for people to celebrate and enjoy this festival in all its beauty, piety and genuine festivities without risking life of oneself or of others.
