Rajasthan News

Tight security for Urs Festival in Ajmer

by RajasthanDirect
May 02, 2013

An unprecedented security measure will be put in place during the 801st Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at the Dargah Sharif here. The state government is taking up the measure in view of the threats and protests against the visit of a Pakistani delegation to the dargah for the occasion. A delegation from Pakistan comes to Ajmer during the Urs every year by a special train. This year, some groups have threatened to protest against the visit in the wake of the recent attack on Sarabjit Singh in a Pakistan prison. The Pakistani delegation will reach Ajmer on May 12.

Minister of state for home Virendra Beniwal on Wednesday took stock of security arrangements at Ajmer ahead of the visit by the Pakistani delegation. Beniwal had a detailed discussion with the district officials about security and informed officials that other than state security forces, personnel of the Central Industrial Police Force (CISF) will also be deployed.

The minister visited Ajmer reportedly at the direction of the Union ministry of home, which is concerned about possible protests after the Pakistani delegation reaches Ajmer.

Sources said the state home minster sanctioned extra force from the CID wing which will be deputed during Urs to keep eye on every corner of the place and also personnel of the Rajasthan Armed Core (RAC) will be called in from the nearby district. Extra additional SP, deputy SP and SHOs will be send to Ajmer from different parts of the state and officials who are experienced in such arrangements will be deputed during the Urs. Beniwal also asked the Railway Protection Force to depute extra battalions at the railway station to help the Pakistani devotees.

Beniwal also attended a meeting on the arrangements made for Urs where BJP MLA Vasudev Devnani requested him to ask the Centre not to provide visa to the Pakistani delegation for visiting Ajmer. “There is anger among the people on the issue of Sarabjit and therefore it would not be right to invite the devotees in Ajmer. Any anti-social element can disturb the peace of this holy city,” Devnani said.

During the meeting, the minister asked officials to remove encroachments from Delhi gate to the main Nizam gate of the dargah. He discussed with officials about the arrangements at different ‘vishram sthalis’ and asked them to keep these places clean. “We have taken 44 schools in the city where arrangements have been made for the devotees to stay,” said Ajmer SP Gaurav Shrivastava.

src: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Unprecedented-security-for-Urs-CISF-personnel-roped-in/articleshow/19825512.cms

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