With festive season on, SWAT teams deployed at busy spots

The district police authorities have deployed Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) teams along with cops at public spots like markets as a measure to ensure public safety and security during Diwali.

A spokesperson of the district police said SWAT teams had been deployed in busy markets, bus stands, malls and railway stations in view of the ongoing festive season on the directions of the office of the Commissioner of Police OP Narwal. He said all SHOs and police stations had been instructed to remain vigilant and ensure checking of suspects or goods. He said the presence of cops of the SWAT teams would help in keeping a close watch on wrong-doers. Cops in civilian clothes will patrol densely populated places to ensure a check on the movement of anti-social elements.

He said while the sale of non-green fire crackers stands banned, the police would take action against those who violate the norms of burning fire crackers beyond the official time limit of 10 pm. He said the police had also been keeping a close watch on the sale of non-green crackers and had seized over 150 kg of crackers being sold or stored in an illegal manner in the past one week.

The traffic police has also been directed to ensure proper regulation of traffic movement as the reports of traffic jams and snarls have risen sharply over the past few weeks especially the market areas.