RANCHI: As the vibrant festival of Holi approaches, Jharkhand’s Special Branch has sounded a high alert across all districts, urging authorities to exercise utmost vigilance. With Holika Dahan scheduled for March 3 and Holi celebrations on March 4, the directive emphasizes preventing communal tensions that have marred past festivities.
The comprehensive advisory, sent to all Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs), highlights risks during the festival. Past incidents where revelers applied colors and abeer to members of other communities or near religious sites have sparked conflicts. The timing coincides with Ramadan, when iftar gatherings in the evening could overlap with Holi milan events, creating potential flashpoints.
Special Branch warns of anti-social elements exploiting these occasions to smear colors forcibly, aiming to disrupt communal harmony. Districts have been furnished with historical data on Holi-related disputes to inform their strategies.
Key directives include maintaining detailed records of Holi milan programs, cultural events, and Holika Dahan sites, complete with organizer details and crowd estimates. Heightened patrolling is mandated in communally sensitive and disputed areas. Police must curb forced color-smearing, prepare contingency plans for law and order breakdowns, and monitor known troublemakers with prior records of disturbances.
Additional measures target illicit liquor sales, drug peddlers, illegal slaughterhouses, and provocative social media groups. Peace committee meetings at police station levels are compulsory, alongside intensified foot patrols and vehicle checks to prevent drunk driving. The advisory stresses cracking down on spurious alcohol, which has caused fatalities during past Holi celebrations due to alcohol prohibition driving underground sales.
Authorities are also tasked with tracking dignitaries’ movements and compiling lists of WhatsApp admins and social media handles spreading hate. This multi-pronged approach aims to ensure Jharkhand’s Holi remains a celebration of joy without compromising public safety or social fabric.