Allahabad, Sep 28: The Kumbh Mela administration is looking for cops who are vegetarian and teetotaller to deploy them during the mega event in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad, starting January 15 next year. A certificate of 'good character' is also one of the qualities that the Kumbh Mela administration is looking in policemen.

During Kumbh Mela, more than 10,000 policemen including paramilitary personnel are expected to be deployed for security. The deployment will start by October. Cops who hail from Allahabad won't be deployed for the Kumbh Mela security. The age limit for constables to be assigned duties has been fixed below 35 years. Kumbh Mela 2019 Will Be Historic, Says Adityanath.

Head constables and sub-inspectors and inspectors should be below age 40 and 45 respectively. The deployment of cops is divided into four phases. In the first phase, 10 per cent cops will be deployed, while 40 per cent in the second phase in November. 25 per cent of paramilitary forces will be deployed in third and fourth phases. Jawaharlal Nehru Statue in Allahabad Shifted For Kumbh Mela, Congress Fumes.

SSPs will interview police officers to be assigned in the second, third and fourth phases. "We've written to the SSPs of Bareilly, Badaun, Shahjahanpur and Pilibhit to verify the character of policemen who have applied for the Mela duty as the department seeks only vegetarian, non-smoking, non-drinking and soft-spoken policemen for the period," DIG/SSP (Kumbh) K P Singh told TOI.

The Uttar Pradesh government has allocated Rs 850 crore for the Kumbh Mela.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 28, 2018 08:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).