PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, April 11: Ramnavami processions were taken out in Jamshedpur today amidst heavy security arrangements to prevent any clash.
Members of the various akharas, carrying huge saffron flags, displayed martial arts after the processions started coming out in the afternoon.
Various social bodies of the city distributed ‘sherbet’, jaggery and ‘chana’ to those taking part in the procession from temporary stalls lined up on the route.
Most of the 150-odd licenced akharas took to the procession quite late in the afternoon. The immersion of the flags will stretch still 10 pm. Akharas of Sitaramdera, Mango, Sakchi, Sonari, Kadma, Ranikudar and Jugsalai took out their processions accompanied by police.
Members of various akharas performed daring acts with the lathis, swords, spears and tube lights. Some of the youths broke tube lights on their foreheads while others jumped on the broken glasses with renewed vigour.
A huge crowd had gathered to watch the youths perform near the Basant Cinema in Sakchi and near the Mango bridge. As many as six companies of paramilitary forces were deployed to maintain law and order. No untoward incidents were reported from any parts of the city.
Barricadings and drop gates were put up in various strategic and sensitive pockets.
Senior police officials, including the senior SP Tamil Vanan went around the city monitoring the processions. Drones were also pressed to service to keep tab on the immersion processions.
Power supply was snapped in Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Limited ( JBVNL ) serviced areas like Mango, Jugsalai and other places between 12 noon to 10 pm to prevent any mishaps.
Notably, the Ramnavani immersion processions could not be taken out in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
