Patna, Oct 1 (IANS): The Bihar govt Tuesday banned religious and political cartoons in the state during the upcoming festival season. It directed the police to maintain communal harmony at all costs and act firmly against anti-socials and trouble-makers, officials said.

Apprehending attempts to ignite communal tension and violence in the state during the festival season, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked top police officials to be more vigilant against communal strife.

"In a high level meeting chaired by the chief minister, it was decided to ban religious and political cartoons during upcoming festival season including Durga Puja, in a bid to check any attempt to create communal tension," Home Secretary Amir Subhani told media persons here.

Noting that it is a common practice during festivals to use caricatures and cartoons of politicians and others at puja pandals to highlight topical and controversial issues, a police official said that the government fears that such cartoons may create caste-based and religious tension.