Festival Bandobust Guidelines

Festival bandobust is also an important duty of the police. Guidelines / precautions to be taken for managing large assemblies have been mentioned in APPM Order 302, 303 and 304.
Following are the some of the guidelines:

Study of SCH IV to know the background to know the details fairs & festivals in the limits. Know the details of previous incidents / offences taken place. Keep liaison with the organizers and know the programmes. Identify pressure points vulnerable for stampede and take suitable measures. Arrange barricading wherever required. Ensure maintenance of queues with the help of volunteers. Utilize videography wherever required. Caution public through loud speakers. Ensure that there is proper chain of command. Police interference should be minimum whenever there is disorder. Staff deployed for duties should have local knowledge. A temporarily police station may be open with essential records to facilitate the registration in investigation of cases. Keep watch on movements of unsocial elements and bind over such elements if required. Senior Officers should watch the developments and guide them. Collection of intelligence on issues suspected to surface during festivals. Divide the area into sectors with a specified number of police officers with names and designations allotted to each sector. Prepare a plan indicating the important points where men are to be posted.

Staff should be briefed about the duties to be performed at each point including responsibilities. Arrange foot patrols sector wise to ensure visibility of policing. Open a control room and instructions / alert message / cautions to be given through public address system, and for keeping traced missing children. Ensure rest rooms for staff members. Establish a police station for making complaints and supervise the bandobust arrangements. Keep reserve force with necessary riot equipment to meet exigency. Keep liaison with other departments. Keep watch on gambling and arrack sellers. Deploy mufti personnel for property offenders, pocket pickers and chain snatchers. Keep watch on trouble shooters and eve teasers. Ensure proper lighting arrangements in the vicinity. Utilize the services of volunteers wherever required. Maintain restrain while on duty. Proper relief should be given to staff members on duty. Ensure the staff is alert on duty. Utilize videography wherever required. Avoid harassment of petty traders. Prohibit cultural shows which are obscene. Preparation of bandobust scheme. Logistic support. TA/DA, food arrangements. Arrange ambulance vehicle. Ensure the presence of fire brigade. Ensure the availability of Doctor in the health camp. Traffic arrangements. Parking arrangements for vehicles. Enforcement of prohibitory orders if required.

Ensure the presence of Executive Magistrate. Police should maintain restraint. Police interference should be minimum when there is disorder. Firing should be avoided as for as possible. Ensure the cooperation of maithri and peace committee members. Take the assistance of sympathizers in identifying militants. Police duties should be continued till the public is disbursed. Regulate traffic arrangements and patrol en-route. Separate rescue team should be formed to act in emergencies. Ensure uninterrupted power supply. Enlist the cooperation of organizers for making standby power arrangements.

De-briefing session should be organized with the staff members to know the short comings / difficulties faced while performing duties for making note of things and implementation. All the points which require the attention of police should be entered in Part IV of the Station Crime History.