Monday, 23 August 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
In order to maintain peace and order during the monsoon session of Vidhan Sabha starting from Monday, the Dehradun district administration has imposed section 144 in a radius of 300 metres around the Vidhan Sabha building.
Anticipating protests by the members of the opposition parties, various organisations and groups during the monsoon session, the administration has also restricted the gathering of more than four people around the said area of the Vidhan Sabha building. As per the recent orders issued by the Dehradun district magistrate R Rajesh Kumar, section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) will remain in effect till the end of the assembly session and violation of the order will be punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. According to Kumar, sharp-edged weapons like firearms, sticks, hockey sticks, swords or any other objects like stones or bricks which can be used for violence will not be allowed within 300 metres radius of the Vidhan Sabha building during this period. He stated that no person shall use any object made of firecrackers and gunpowder on the roads and crossroads in the area but clarified that the on-duty government servants have been exempted from these restrictions. Kumar also mentioned in the order that activities like slogan shouting, use of loudspeakers, writing slogans on government buildings and making provocative speeches that might disturb communal sentiments or mislead the public will be prohibited in the said area too. The administration has also banned the gathering of vehicles like two-wheeler vehicles, tractors, trolleys etc to avoid rallies by protestors besides banning the gathering of more than four people in the area.
The DM asserted that all these orders will be valid throughout the monsoon session and any kind of violation will be punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code. The senior superintendent of police (SSP) of Dehradun, Yogendra Singh Rawat also held a briefing session with the police force for Vidhan Sabha duty on Sunday. He directed the officials to ensure that no unauthorised vehicle is parked on the road outside the Vidhan Sabha building. He also added that those participating in demonstrations outside Vidhan Sabha should be stopped at the barriers. He asked all the officers and staff deployed on all the barriers to wear helmets and body protectors before the assembly session. The SSP said that untoward incidents should be informed instantly to the incharge of the deployed officials and the incident should be captured in photographs and videos too. Stringent action will be taken against the officials and staff for any negligence and careless attitude in the duty, asserted Rawat. Meanwhile, the authorities have erected barricading on Haridwar Road near the Rispana bridge and on the route to the Vidhan Sabha. As in the past, protest rallies will be stopped at the barricading before the bridge.
