Cartoons put up at a Puja pandal last year. Telegraph picture

Patna, Sept. 29: This Puja, think twice before taking a dig at a politician or putting up vulgar posters in the name of festivities.

Patna district magistrate (DM) Sanjay Kumar Singh and senior superintendent of police (SSP) Alok Kumar today issued a joint statement warning Puja committees against putting up caricatures and posters making personal attack on public figures in the pandals.

Coming out from the joint meeting at Patna Collectorate, the DM said: “The cartoons and posters should not defame any person or hurt anybody’s feelings. Strict action will be taken against people disobeying the directive. The Puja samitis should follow the path of decency because Durga Puja is a festival of joy, peace and harmony.”

It is a common practice among organisers to use caricatures of politicians to highlight topical and controversial issues. “Durga Puja is a solemn occasion and we do not want any controversy or tension during this festival,” said Singh “Such cartoons, at times, create caste and religious divide. There would be random checking of pandals and if anybody is found violating the order, he/she will face strict action,” the DM added.

The SSP said: “We have asked the Puja samitis not to put up any vulgar poster or comment and strict order has been issued with regard to playing songs. As the occasion is pious, so they should not play any vulgar songs. They can only play religious songs and that too at the prescribed volume.”

Kumar further said: “During the festival there would be video recording at all prominent places to identify people involved in eve-teasing and illegal activities. Rapid Action Force will also be deployed along with 25,00 police officials, including 400 senior officers.”

Subscription warning

Police have warned all Puja organisers not to force people to cough up subscription. “The residents should not be scared. The should get in touch with the men in uniform if anybody approaches them for forced subscription,” Patna city central superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande said today.

He added that all police stations have been instructed to ask the Puja committees to provide the police with a list of their members. “Once we get the list, it will be easy for us to identify the offenders and crack the whip on them,” the officer said.