Hyderabad, March 18 (INN): The police on Friday made it clear that they were taking all necessary precautions to ensure that peace and harmony prevails in city during Holi.
In a statement, city police chief AK Khan said that both the Hindu and Sikh communities would be observing Holi festival, the former starting the festivities with the traditional bonfire on the evening of March 19 while on March 20, the latter community members would take out processions.
The police said that forces would be stationed at all sensitive areas in the city, particularly on the routes along the processions by the Sikh community.
One procession will begin from the Central Gurudwara Saheb Gowliguda, and pass through Mahaboob Gunj, Siddiamber Bazar, Begum Bazar Chatri, Chudi Bazar, Puranapul, Bahadurpura, Sikh Chowni, Baramabala at Kishan Bagh. Another procession will start from Charmahal Gurudwara at 4.30 PM and pass through Petlaburj, Puranapul where the two processions will join and move through Bahadurpura, Kishan Bagh to Sikh Chowni and return back on the same route to Central Gurudwara Saheb, Gowliguda.
A separate procession will be taken out from Uppuguda at 4.00 PM and move in surrounding locality of Kandikalgate, Bhoiguda, Chatrinaka, Uppuguda Railway gate, Ex-Servicemen Colony and return to the starting point.
The police chief said that elaborate bandobust arrangements are being made by his department for maintaining Law and Order.
Armed Police Pickets will be posted at sensitive and vulnerable points. Mr Khan reminded that the police has already issued prohibitory orders and ordered the closure of wine shops and bars attached to restaurants (excluding bars in star hotels and registered clubs) within the limits of Hyderabad City from 6 PM on March 18 to 6 AM on March 20.
The police has already prohibited throwing of colours, coloured water on persons, places and vehicles and smearing of colours on persons at public places and also prohibited movement of two-wheelers and other vehicles in groups on streets at public places.
The police chief stated that traffic diversions will be made on the route of the processions taken out by members of the Sikh community. (INN)