Around 35,000 home guard jawans proceeded on a five-day casual leave on Saturday in support of their demands, putting at stake the maintenance of law and order during Holi in the state.

The festival of colours would be celebrated on Monday.

On Saturday, the state president of the State Home Guard Volunteers' Association, Arun Kumar Thakur, said the members would remain on leave till March 15. The decision to go on mass leave was taken after parleys held with director general-cum-commandant general of state home guard, P.N. Rai, failed to reach any conclusion on Friday.

The members, Thakur said, would go on an indefinite agitation if the state government failed to pay heed to their demands, which included payment and leave at par with the state police personnel. At present, home guard jawans are paid a daily allowance of Rs 400 for round-the-clock duty.

Of the total strength of 72,000, only 35,000 jawans were allotted duty. The remaining 37,000 had to wait for their turn to get the assignment. "We have been demanding similar wages for similar work," Thakur added.

A senior police officer posted at the state police headquarters said additional forces would be deployed at the police stations from respective police lines during Holi to carry out routine patrolling. "We will be providing additional forces to sensitive districts to man the police stations in absence of home guard jawans," he told The Telegraph.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said additional police forces had been provided from the police headquarters to maintain law and order during Holi. Special teams have been formed to ensure implementation of prohibition in the district, especially in riverine areas during the festival.

In addition, anti-eve teasing teams will patrol the lanes and by-lanes of the state capital. Women cops in civvies will also be deployed in some localities, the SSP added.