The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Wednesday issued a series of stern orders emphasising public safety during the upcoming Dussehra and Durga Puja celebrations and promising decisive action against those stoking communal or caste tensions.

Summarising the directives issued on behalf of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the CMO said: “Attempts to instigate caste conflicts must be completely stopped...Safety in Durga Puja and Ravan Dahan evnts to be given highest priority. Idols to not be taller than a safe height. All arrangements for immersion to be made...CM has directed Police officials to conduct surprise inspections of slaughterhouses and ensure that the guidelines are being followed.”

On women’s safety, the CMO stressed the Chief Minister’s focus and zero-tolerance approach: “Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has given highest priority to women safety. Accountability into the incidents of molestation, chain snatching, acid attack will be fixed from Police Stations to PRV. Entry of imposters in Garba-Dandiya events to be stopped, Mission Shakti 5.0 to be launched on ground.”

Underlining a tougher law-and-order stance during the festival season, the CMO quoted the Chief Minister as saying: “Dussehra is the symbol of 'dahan' of evil and terror, this is the right time for action against miscreants. He has taken a strict stand regarding attempts to spread anarchy in processions of a particular community in different districts, he said that miscreants will be crushed by the Government. He has said that miscreants will not be spared, such an action will be taken against them that they won't even think of spreading anarchy again. He has ordered for immediate FIR against miscreants into the incidents in Kanpur, Varanasi, Moradabad and other districts; their property will be checked. All miscreants will be identified, through video footage and social media monitoring no miscreant will be spared.”

Key orders issued by the CMO include:

Immediate FIRs and investigations into recent incidents in Kanpur, Varanasi, Moradabad and other districts.

Video footage and social-media monitoring to identify and prosecute perpetrators.

Surprise inspections of slaughterhouses to ensure compliance with safety and legal guidelines.

Strict checks on idol height and immersion arrangements to prevent accidents during Ravan Dahan and Durga Visarjan.

Launch of Mission Shakti 5.0 on the ground and clear accountability at the level of police stations and PRVs for crimes against women.

Measures to prevent entry of imposters into public Garba–Dandiya events and other community gatherings.