Armymen armed with a sniffer dog and a metal detector conduct a check on the eve of Chhath Puja on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Nov. 3: Thursday’s bomb blast on the CJM court premises has made Kachari Ghat out of bounds for Chhath devotees this year.

A police officer said this year the Chhath Puja organisers have been asked not to perform puja at Kachari Ghat behind the CJM court building. It is among the most popular venues for Chhath Puja in the city.

“There is no other option as it is a question of security,” the officer said.

“Purbottar Hindustani Yubak Samaj used to organise Chhath Puja at ghats in Kachari and Sukleshwar. Since security concerns have clouded the festival this year, they have asked to confine it to Sukleshwar Ghat only,” a police officer said.

The two-day Chhath Puja begins tomorrow. Governor Shiv Charan Mathur and chief minister Tarun Gogoi greeted the people on the eve of Chhath Puja.

Observed mainly by people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the festival has over the years started attracting thousands of devotees at the ghats.

Thursday’s serial bomb blasts coupled with the history of Chhath devotees coming under militant attack have heightened fears of terror attacks during the puja manifold this year.

Chhath Puja is likely to be a low-key affair this year as the Purbottar Hindustani Sammelan has appealed to all puja committees in the state to observe the festival “without any pomp and grandeur” as mark of respect to the blast victims.

“Since we are in a secular and democratic nation, we cannot put any restriction on religious activity. However, considering the present situation, the organisers have been requested to cancel the entertainment programmes,” the police officer said.

He said a decision has been taken to bring the Chhath Puja under CCTV surveillance for the first time. Police will constantly scan the footage from the cameras.

The CCTV cameras are being installed at all the places where the puja will be performed as part of a plan to bring the venues under electronic surveillance. We have already prepared a blueprint for Chhath Puja security and we are quite confident that the festival will pass off peacefully,” the officer said.

But with the serial blasts still fresh in people’s mind, this year not many people are likely to come to the ghats during the festival.

Apart from Sukleshwar Ghat, Chhath Puja will be also performed at Bharalumukh, Pandu Ghat, near Basistha Temple, Lalmati and Gorchuk.

“Bursting of crackers and plying of private boats in the Brahmaputra has been prohibited during the festival,” the officer said.

“We will increase police visibility at puja venues and on the roads to bring back confidence in people, who were shaken to the core by the serial blasts,” he added.

The police have also set up special anti-sabotage teams to carry out checks at the Chhath Puja venues.

The anti-sabotage teams will consist of bomb disposal squads as well as police personnel trained in dealing with terrorist activities.