BHOPAL: Politicians, Judges, bureaucrats, industrialists, movie stars and celebrities of all shades planning to take a holy dip this Simhastha Kumbh Mela at Ujjain have been told by an “overburdened” Madhya Pradesh police that they will not be provided with additional security, sparing personnel at the expense of routine cover for the event.Bothered by number of applications seeking “special arrangement” in the last few days, state government has issued an advisory to Supreme court/high court registers, chief secretaries and police headquarters (PHQs) across the country citing that they would not be able to comply with security protocol or provide any additional cover to anyone else falling in the VIP and VVIP categories.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan himself has avowed to visit the mela as an “aam admi” common man.

“We have received more than 250 applications from VIPs and VVIPs of different states seeking security arrangements for their Ujjain visit, which is not at all possible,'” said a senior officer.

Over 7 crore pilgrims are expected to visit Ujjain and other holy places during the month long fair, for which huge security and logistical arrangements have been made, including shifting of police forces from all 51 districts to Ujjain.

A devotee carries his disabled friend after taking a holy dip in the waters of the river Shipra during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain. (Reuters photo)At present, 22,000 security personnel, including the state police, central forces and other departments have been deployed, and 5000 extra will be posted during shahi snan ‘royal bath’ events.

“We have issued an advisory and made it very clear that if VIP/VVIP is coming to take a dip, they should make the required arrangements themselves,” said a top authority responsible for maintaining security at the mela.

He said that the force was not in a condition to provide any special privileges to prominent personalities as it is “overburdened”, especially keeping in mind the alerts that have gone out after the arrest of SIMI operatives.