LAHORE - Punjab Police on Tuesday deployed more than 42,000 police officers and personnel across the province to ensure the peaceful observance of the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).According to spokesperson,730 Majalis and 420 mourning processions were being held across Punjab under stringent security arrangements. He said more than 10,000 police officers and personnel had been deployed in Lahore to provide security for 44 Majalis and 17 mourning processions. Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP),Abdul Kareem said that 390 walk-through gates and 6,427 metal detectors were being used for the screening of participants while the Punjab Safe Cities Authority was monitoring the processions and Majalis through its surveillance camera network. He said the Elite Force,Traffic Police and volunteers were also assisting in the security arrangements, adding that the CCPO Lahore, regional police officers (RPOs) and district police officers (DPOs) had been directed to personally supervise the implementation of the security plan. Abdul Kareem said elaborate security arrangements had also been made for the annual Urs of Hazrat Data Ali Hajveri (RA) with special control rooms continuously monitoring the Chehlum processions,Majalis and Urs ceremonies. He said snipers had been deployed on rooftops of buildings situated along the procession routes while women police personnel had been assigned to conduct security checks and provide protection to female mourners. The IGP also directed police officers to ensure effective coordination with Peace Committees,community leaders, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to maintain peace and religious harmony during the observance.
(The Nation)
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