Police personnel on vigil at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by J Prakash

Patna, March 22: It was a tough day for the Patna police today. First, it was President Pratibha Patil’s visit to the state for the celebrations at the Bihar Legislative Council. Then, the opening of the three-day Bihar Divas festivities at the Gandhi Maidan and regular crime kept the city police literally on their toes today.

Though the state capital till evening did not witness any incidents of crime or events of unrest apart from a quarrel between two shopkeepers on Exhibition Road in the afternoon, some policemen said the coming three days would be difficult.

A police officer said it was a very busy day. The President was in town and the cops needed to stay alert and ensure that the security was in order.

The officer said apart from this, after the President left, the police had to dart towards Gandhi Maidan and take care of the security there as the chief minister was still at the venue. The chief minister was scheduled to inaugurate the event. Till last reports came in, the police said that things went fine.

The officer said: “We are policemen and it is our job to take care of the security measures. It was tough today but we are used to it. All the security measures undertaken were in place and things were in order.”

Adequate security arrangements have been made at Gandhi Maidan for three days and the cops are up for it, the officer said.

The police informed that there was tight security in front of the main entrance and cops have been stationed at different spots of the fair premises and were on the lookout for any trouble.

There will be police presence everywhere during the grand event. Apart from the main entrance, cops have been asked to continuously move around on the fair premises to ensure security.

People will not face any problem. There will be women constables too for assistance. Any kind of unruly behaviour will be strictly dealt with, another officer said.

Moreover, there will be regular patrolling in other areas of the state capital as an usual affair with intensive patrolling after sunset, the police said.

The Gandhi Maidan area will see a lot of security cover. With people leaving the fair after sunset, there will be police presence on other roads and areas as well.

The police stations have been told to stay alert during the night.