Patna police have deployed around 4,000 personnel and formed 300 additional mobile patrol teams across the city ahead of Dhanteras and Diwali, with enhanced surveillance and traffic arrangements planned for crowded markets and shopping centres.
Patna SSP Kartikeya K Sharma said the additional deployment would focus on preventing theft, snatching and other crimes during the festive shopping rush. Extra personnel have been assigned to busy commercial areas, including jewellery showrooms, bullion markets and major shopping centres.
“Around 300 extra mobile teams have also been formed specifically for patrolling. These teams will operate in different areas in addition to the regular mobile patrol units and beat teams of police stations. Emergency response teams can also be contacted through the 112 helpline,” Sharma said, according to the Times of India.
The city’s CCTV network is also being used as part of the security plan. Around 1,900 cameras installed across Patna will be monitored from a control room, with police watching crowded locations and looking for suspicious activity. Senior officers and police station teams have been instructed to maintain adequate deployment around major markets while managing both crowds and traffic.
Police have intensified checks on the city’s main roads and are monitoring people with criminal records. Sharma said police stations had been asked to check on such individuals regularly and visit their homes to verify their activities if they failed to report as directed.
Special arrangements have been made around jewellery markets in Bakarganj, Boring Road, Kankarbagh, Raja Bazar and Patna City. Women police personnel and plainclothes officers will be deployed in crowded areas to deter pickpocketing, chain snatching and harassment.
Police have also conducted flag marches and inspections in sensitive commercial locations. A team led by central superintendent of police Chandra Prakash carried out a flag march in Bakarganj, one of Patna’s busiest bullion markets. Similar exercises were held in Boring Road and S K Puri.
Traffic police have been directed to maintain movement near shopping destinations, where special arrangements and diversions are planned to prevent congestion. The measures are intended to support security and crowd management as festive shopping increases across the city.
Residents can contact emergency response teams through the 112 helpline. Police stations, mobile patrol teams, CCTV control-room staff and traffic personnel will continue the arrangements through the Dhanteras-Diwali shopping period.
