Vijayadashmi will be celebrated with great enthusiasm in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida on Tuesday as people gather to witness the ‘Ravan Dahan’, while some participate in the immersion of Goddess Durga idols.

Vijayadashami, or Dussehra, is a festival symbolising the victory of truth over falsehood.

On this occasion, Ravan effigies will be burnt at 35 locations across the city, while the Goddess Durga idol immersion will take place at approximately 200 sites.

Anticipating large crowds during the festivities, the police and local administration have put comprehensive security arrangements in place.

Approximately 2,200 police personnel, including 300 women officers, will be deployed to maintain law and order and ensure the safety of devotees. Additionally, the fire department has kept 26 fire tenders and around 250 firefighting personnel on standby to handle any emergencies.

In light of the Dussehra celebrations and the immersion of Goddess Durga idols, the Noida Traffic Police has devised a special traffic diversion plan. Traffic arrangements on several city routes will be altered from 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday until late evening.

According to the police, traffic on major routes will be regulated to manage expected crowds and increased volume of vehicles. Motorists are advised to check their intended routes before leaving home and plan their travel accordingly.

Under the traffic diversion plan, the road leading from Rajnigandha towards Sector 12, Sector 22, and Sector 56, also known as Master Plan Road-1, is expected to experience heavy traffic pressure. Vehicle movement on this route is likely to be affected due to the Dussehra celebrations.

Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route and to opt for alternative paths if necessary.

In view of the events scheduled around Noida Stadium in Sector 21, traffic arrangements on the roads surrounding the stadium will be modified. Additionally, traffic diversions will be implemented in the Sector 62 area as and when required.

According to the police, these arrangements may remain in place until the crowds disperse following the ‘Ravan Dahan’ (effigy burning). The public is therefore urged to avoid taking vehicles unnecessarily into the vicinity of the event venues and to strictly follow the instructions of the traffic police.

DCP (Traffic) Syed Ali Abbas stated that special arrangements have been made by the traffic police for the convenience of the public. A helpline number, 9971009001, has been issued to provide traffic-related information and assistance.

Citizens may contact this number in the event of traffic congestion or any other traffic-related issues. The police have requested motorists to park their vehicles only in designated parking areas and to refrain from stopping or parking on the roads. Haphazard parking on the road obstructs traffic flow and can lead to congestion.

Action may be taken against vehicles found in violation of these rules. The traffic police have also made provisions to remove vehicles parked on the roads using cranes, if necessary.

Furthermore, the Fire Department has been placed on high alert to address any potential fire hazards or other emergencies during the Dussehra celebrations and the immersion of Durga idols.

A total of 26 fire tenders and approximately 250 firefighting personnel will be deployed across the city to ensure an immediate response to any untoward incident.

Special attention will also be given to security arrangements and crowd control at the event venues.

The police and the administration have appealed to the public to celebrate Dussehra peacefully, disregard rumours, adhere to traffic regulations, and cooperate with police personnel.

Officials have stated that all necessary measures have been taken to maintain security and traffic flow, ensuring that the public can celebrate Vijayadashami in a safe and convenient manner.

BJP leaders on Tuesday criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, over his social media post referring to the reported burning of Albania’s Supreme Court, with several leaders accusing him of promoting anarchy and demanding an apology.

In his post on X, Raut wrote, “The people of Albania have burned down the Supreme Court. The people were enraged because the Supreme Court was helping corrupt prime ministers. The protesting public has also attacked the parliament and government offices, as well as the ministers’ homes. All countries should learn a lesson from these events. Especially India.”

Reacting to the post, BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain accused Raut of threatening the government and the Supreme Court.

“He is saying that lessons should be learned from how the Supreme Court in Albania was set on fire. What message is he trying to convey? Is he trying to threaten the Supreme Court? Uddhav Thackeray should apologise to the Supreme Court for the kind of statement Sanjay Raut has made,” he told media.

BJP leader Guru Prakash Paswan also criticised Raut, asking whether he was attempting to present the events in Albania as an example for India. “Do they want to set an example? The Congress in Kerala also tweeted, ‘Remove the CJI’, and we will bring in a new CJI. The country runs according to the Constitution. …There are constitutional procedures. They are trying to create an atmosphere of anarchy.”

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that Raut was supporting the burning of Albania’s Supreme Court and accused him of repeatedly targeting constitutional institutions.

“They want anarchy. First, they insulted and abused the President, then the Election Commission, and then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Now, they want the Supreme Court to be burned. The people of India will not tolerate anarchy. A contempt petition against Sanjay Raut is currently underway in the Supreme Court, and he will get his answer there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Udit Raj expressed support for Raut’s remarks, linking the controversy to questions surrounding bail decisions.

“When bail is granted, no reasons are given, and Umar Khalid is denied bail. Bail is the rule, so why is it being denied? Why was it granted to others? There should be a speaking order,” he told media.

Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey, responding to the controversy, invoked the occasion of Vijayadashami and said any wish to see India descend into violence and arson was unacceptable.

“Throughout history, righteousness has always triumphed over unrighteousness, justice over injustice, and truth over falsehood. To those who pray or wish for India to burn, for chaos, violence, and arson to spread, or for our nation to descend into conditions like those seen in Albania, France, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, or Nepal, know that this cannot happen here; this is India,” he said.

Alert personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) apprehended a passenger at Delhi’s Jama Masjid Metro Station after he allegedly attempted to flee when a suspicious object was detected during his baggage screening.

According to the CISF, the incident came to light when the passenger’s baggage was being screened through an X-ray Baggage Inspection System (XBIS). During the examination, personnel noticed a dense and suspicious object on the scanner screen.

Sensing something unusual, the security personnel attempted to examine the matter further. However, the passenger allegedly tried to escape from the screening area, according to CISF.

Displaying promptness and alertness, CISF personnel immediately chased him and apprehended him near the station’s exit gate before he could leave the premises.

A subsequent examination of his belongings led to the recovery of an unidentified semi-solid substance concealed inside a stitched portion of his undergarment, the CISF said.

According to reports, the passenger reportedly claimed to be a non-resident Indian (NRI) residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Following the recovery, the CISF handed over the passenger, along with his belongings and the suspected substance, to the police for further investigation.

The nature of the semi-solid substance and the reason behind its concealment remain unclear. Police are investigating the matter to establish the identity of the substance and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The CISF’s swift intervention prevented the passenger from leaving the station without further examination.

The force said its personnel remain alert during the screening of passengers and their baggage to ensure compliance with security protocols and prevent any potential threat to metro commuters. Further action in the case will depend on the findings of the investigation, said the police officials.