Chennai: In view of the Diwali festival, 1 lakh police personnel have been deployed for security duty across Tamil Nadu. Intensive surveillance has been carried out in commercial areas where large crowds gather, with watchtowers, CCTV cameras, and drone cameras installed.
The Diwali festival is set to be celebrated on the 8th. In connection with this, the public has been flocking to shopping streets to buy new clothes and other items.
In addition, many people are also preparing to travel to their hometowns. Taking this into account, extensive security arrangements have been made in key areas of Chennai on the orders of Chennai Metropolitan Police Commissioner Amalraj.
Special police have been deployed in crowded areas such as T. Nagar, Pondy Bazaar, Purasawalkam, NSC Bose Road, MC Road, GA Road, Koyambedu, and Anna Nagar to control crowd congestion and prevent crimes including theft.
18,000 police personnel from the law and order wing, crime branch, traffic police, armed police, Tamil Nadu Special Police, and home guards are engaged in security duty.
In addition, 25 temporary surveillance towers have been set up in key areas including T. Nagar. The movement of suspicious persons is being monitored by 37 binocular surveillance teams. Twelve temporary police control rooms, 37 help centers, and 10 mini CCTV control rooms have been established.
In addition, 205 CCTV cameras have been installed, and police are carrying out surveillance using 100 body-worn cameras. Monitoring is also being done through 7 drone cameras in the T. Nagar, Pookadai, Triplicane, and Koyambedu areas.
199 police teams are conducting checks using a facial recognition app to identify old offenders. Male and female police officers in plain clothes are also keeping a secret watch. Crowds are being controlled through patrol vehicles and traffic marshals.
In addition, wristbands are being provided to prevent children from going missing, and cloth covers are being given to protect women’s gold jewelry. Belongings are being checked with mobile X-ray scanners in shopping complexes. Safety arrangements have also been made at firecracker shops in coordination with the fire and health departments.
Similarly, across Tamil Nadu, 1 lakh police personnel are engaged in surveillance duties under the direct supervision of DGP Mahesh Kumar Agarwal. The DGP has requested that if the public obtains any information about suspicious persons, they should immediately report it.
Firecrackers can be burst for 2 hours:
As per the Supreme Court ruling and the Tamil Nadu government's guidelines, firecrackers should be burst only from 6 to 7 a.m. and from 7 to 8 p.m. on Diwali day. DGP Mahesh Kumar Agarwal and Chennai Police Commissioner Amalraj have instructed that the public should celebrate Diwali safely and joyfully.