Bhagalpur District Magistrate Issues Comprehensive Directives for Peaceful Holi Festivities
In a crucial review meeting held on Friday, Bhagalpur District Magistrate Nawal Kishor Choudhary addressed the district's law-and-order situation, issuing detailed instructions to ensure peaceful celebrations during the upcoming Holi festival. The directives come at a sensitive time as Holi coincides with the ongoing Ramzan fasting period, requiring heightened vigilance and community coordination.
Multi-Level Administrative Coordination for Social Harmony
DM Choudhary directed district, sub-divisional, and block-level officials, along with Station House Officers (SHOs) of all police stations, to implement comprehensive measures preventing any disturbance to social harmony. Administrative and police officials have been instructed to organize peace committee meetings with local residents, fostering an atmosphere of bonhomie and brotherhood during the festivities.
The three-day Holi celebrations, scheduled from March 2 to 4, will see Holika Dahan on March 2 followed by revelry on March 3 and 4. Special attention is being given to sensitive locations, with magistrates and police task forces deployed strategically. Additional forces have been mobilized, and 24×7 control rooms established at both district and sub-divisional levels to monitor developments in real-time.
Strict Enforcement Against Liquor Smuggling and Prohibited Activities
In a significant move, the DM issued special directives to curb liquor smuggling from neighboring Jharkhand and West Bengal. Excise department and police officials have been ordered to ensure strict compliance with the Bihar Prohibition and Excise (Amendment) Act, which bans the manufacture, sale, and consumption of both country-made liquor (CML) and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL).
Authorities will take stringent action against smuggling and consumption of illicit liquor or drugs, with flying squads maintaining close surveillance on sensitive areas. Any unlawful activities or hooliganism during Holi will not be tolerated, warned DM Choudhary, emphasizing zero tolerance for violations of state prohibition laws.
Regulations on Music and Public Behavior During Celebrations
Officials have received clear instructions to register cases against individuals or groups indulging in loud or lewd music during Holi. Playing loud or vulgar songs in public through sound systems has been explicitly prohibited, with police teams directed to enforce government rules and regulations strictly throughout the festivities.
DM Choudhary appealed to the public to maintain social harmony and refrain from forcibly applying colors, ensuring all community sentiments are respected. Officials will work to guarantee that celebrations remain joyful without compromising public order or religious sensitivities, particularly during the overlapping Holi and Ramzan periods.
