“We have deployed 100 personals in civil dress to discourage Marijuana trade,” Kapil Bohara, Police Inspector, working at Gausala police station, said. He said police have formed special team to curb marijuana trade on Maha Shivaratri. “We can punish them under the Public Offence Act,” he added. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) said it has asked police to curb marijuana trade in the Pashupati area on Maha Shivaratri. [break]
The police said more than 4,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure full-proof security in and around Pashupatinath temple. Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army will be mobilized for this purpose. More than 5,000 volunteers including scouts will assist the devotees in the queues. PADT said all necessary preparations for the festival have been completed and people can visit the temple from 3 am on Monday.
“We have completed cleaning of the temple. Health camps, mobile toilets, and other facilities have been put in place,” Umesh Kuinkel, who is coordinator of publicity sub-committee for the festival, said. He claimed the visitors will not have to stay in the queue for more than half an hour to visit the temple.
Kuinkel said BTS mobile vans will be stationed in the temple area to tackle network problem for mobile phone users.
More than 3,500 sadhus and babas including many from India have arrived at the Pashupatinath temple to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. PADT expects 600,000 to 800,000 visitors on Maha Shivaratri.
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