MEERUT, July 10 -- On the eve of Kanwar Yatra, Muzaffarnagar police have ramped up security measures to prevent thefts that have marred the pilgrimage in previous years. In a pre-emptive crackdown, 1,217 known offenders with past records of vehicle and mobile phone theft have been identified and placed under personal bonds, in an effort to deter repeat offences during the sacred annual event, authorities said on Thursday.

Superintendent of police, city, Satyanarayan Prajapat stated that strict surveillance has been put in place around Kanwar camps.

"We have deployed police officers in civvies and installed CCTV cameras at key locations near the camps," he said, adding the crackdown was launched in view of repeated complaints and unrest ...