Security has been stepped up in Bareilly district and other sensitive areas following the communal violence in western districts of Uttar Pradesh.
“Apprehending that anti-social elements might try to harm the atmosphere, prohibitory orders have been issued and the leave of all policemen cancelled as a precautionary measure,” District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash said.
The DM said that the decision in this regard was taken and conveyed to the administrative and police officials at a meeting here last night in the wake of reports of violence in Muzaffarnagar spreading to its neighbouring districts.
Police forces along with 45 quick reaction teams and two companies of provincial armed constabulary have been deployed in 71 sensitive areas.
Special vigil is being maintained in sensitive areas such as Shahmatgaj, Kulhadapeer, Kalibari, Shahdana, Kutubkhana and Math ki Chowki, he said, adding that closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) have also been installed.
Intelligence units have been alerted and prospective trouble makers are being identified.
Bareilly, a communally sensitive district, has seen several communal flare-ups in the recent past.