Bijender Sharma

Dharmshala---The ten -day Navratra Mela today started here amid tight security. Large number of the pilgrims this morning visited the Famous shrine of Jawalamukhi, Bajjreshwari devi Kangra and Chamunda temples in the district on the first day of the Navratra.

R.S. Gupta Deputy Commissioner of Kangra has said all arrangements for security and law and order, besides other facilities for the visiting pilgrims had been completed.

He said five armed reserves had been deployed in three temples and 300 Home Guards too were deployed to regulate pilgrim traffic and maintain law and order situation. He said the police personnel in civil too had been deployed to keep vigil on the anti-social elements.

He said under Section 144 of the CrPC ban had been imposed in the three temple towns of Kangra, Jawalamukhi and Chamunda to carry fire arms, sharp edged weapons and explosive material with immediate effect up to 14. He said each temple town had been divided into four sectors with a sector magistrate in each sector.

Gupta said to maintain proper sanitation in the temple towns 300 workers had been put on duty in each town.

The pilgrims visiting the temples would be frisked and have to pass through metal detectors before entering the temples. Coconut as prasada would not be allowed to be taken in the temple during Navratras.