Police to resume Operation Maryada to check rowdy acts during Char Dham Yatra
Saturday, 29 April 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The State’s director general of police Ashok Kumar has directed all the senior/superintendents of police to ensure that visitors do not indulge in activities which affect the sanctity of the pilgrimage centres in Uttarakhand. In a communication released by the additional director general of police (Crime, Law and Order) V Murugeshan, all the SSPs and SPs have been directed to ensure that visitors do not indulge in rowdy and objectionable activities in sacred places.
In the past, video clips which went viral on social media showed some persons indulging in objectionable activities on the banks of the Ganga river. Such actions hurt the religious sentiments of the public. Considering this, the DGP had directed the start of Operation Maryada to maintain the sanctity and cleanliness of all pilgrimage centres and tourist spots in the State. Since the start of the Char Dham Yatra this year, another video showing some youth smoking a hookah on the bridle path to Kedarnath has also gone viral on social media.
The DGP has directed that those who are found consuming intoxicants or meat at pilgrimage places and religious sites during the Char Dham Yatra should be arrested immediately and strict action as per the rules should be ensured against them. Similarly, action should also be taken as per the rules against those found littering tourist spots. For this purpose, the police have decided to undertake Operation Maryada from April 29 to July 15. The police chiefs of all the districts have been directed to start the operation from Saturday and send report on the action taken to the police headquarters on a daily basis.
It will be recalled that some pilgrims and tourists have been observed consuming alcohol and indulging in rowdy behaviour along the Ganga and en route to pilgrimage centres in the State in recent years. In the past the police have taken stringent action against such elements.
