Drone Flying Banned At Ranchi Independence Day Venue For Security
Key Points:
- CM Hemant Soren To Hoist National Flag At Morhabadi Ground
- Drone Flying Barred At Venue Except For Authorised Department Use
- Fourteen Platoons To Take Part In Independence Day Parade
RANCHI – Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren will hoist the national flag at the historic Morhabadi ground on August 15. The state-level Independence Day function will take place amid an ongoing student agitation.
Students have been protesting at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium for nearly 21 days. Their demonstration relates to alleged irregularities in the JPSC-JSSC examinations.
Authorities have imposed a complete ban on flying drones at the Morhabadi venue this year. Only drones authorised by the concerned department will be permitted for videography or photography during the function.
Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan announced the restriction at a joint briefing. The officials clarified that the general public will not be allowed to operate drones near the ceremony site.
A joint briefing was held for magistrates and police officers deployed for the event. Officials discussed the successful, safe and smooth conduct of the Independence Day programme.
Ranchi District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri attended the briefing along with SSP Rakesh Ranjan. Traffic SP Rakesh Singh and Additional District Magistrate (Law and Order) Dhananjay were also present.
The officials briefed deputed personnel on their responsibilities and necessary guidelines under the joint order. They directed that all visitors arriving at the venue be checked according to prescribed standards.
Officials said no unauthorised person or objectionable material should be allowed to enter the ceremony premises. They asked security personnel to remain alert and vigilant throughout their duties.
Traffic routes in the capital have been altered specially for August 15. The move is meant to keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure people face no inconvenience during the event.
Officials said the changes would also help enforce designated parking arrangements near the venue. A total of fourteen platoons from paramilitary forces, police and other units will participate in the parade.
These include the CRPF, ITBP, SSB, CISF and Odisha Police, along with Jharkhand Jaguar, JAP-1, JAP-2 and JAP-10 contingents. Male and female units of Ranchi district police will also march, alongside the Jharkhand Home Guard and NCC girls’ and boys’ units.
Band parties from JAP-1, JAP-10 and the Jharkhand Home Guard will additionally perform during the ceremony. Ranchi has previously carried out full dress rehearsals ahead of Independence Day functions in past years.
However, this year’s arrangements come against the backdrop of the prolonged student agitation at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium. Meanwhile, security preparations for the JPSC-JSSC-related unrest have run parallel to the Independence Day planning.
A source close to the administration said, “Security this year has been planned keeping both the ceremony and the ongoing protest in view.” Besides the drone ban, checks at entry points have been tightened as part of the broader security cover.
Independence Day rehearsals and preparations are typically held days in advance in Ranchi. In addition, examination-related disputes over JPSC exams have periodically triggered student unrest in Jharkhand.
Moreover, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation area has seen heightened administrative activity ahead of the state function. On the other hand, examination irregularities at other institutions have also drawn political attention in recent months.
Jails across Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Seraikela have separately been undergoing security-related upgrades. Traffic SP Rakesh Singh’s department is coordinating the route changes alongside the district administration.
