Lucknow: With a view to ensuring peace and communal amity during the festival of Holi in Uttar Pradesh, state DGP on Thursday issued necessary directives to district police officials.

DGP Arvind Kumar Jain has asked the officials to identify sensitive spots, mischievous elements and take preventive action to ensure peaceful observance of the festival of colours, IG Law and Order, A Satish Ganesh said.

The leaves of field staff have been cancelled between March 3 and 11 and only those in extreme conditions will be allowed to proceed on them, he said, adding that it is expected that the staff remained alert during the festival.

As per the analysis of sensitivity, one company each of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) will be deployed in Meerut, Bareilly, Moradabad, Kanpur city, Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Gorakhpur, Varanasi and Azamgarh besides two companies in Lucknow.

A demand for the same has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, he said.

In addition, 38 companies and two platoons of Provincial Armed Constabulary of the DG reserve will also be deployed as and where required, he added.

Source: IBN