Mathura, Dec 15 (IANS): Security around temples and sensitive places in Mathura and Vrindavan will be beefed up ahead of the Republic Day Jan 26.

With the crime rate shooting up and the local police failing to crack recent cases of heinous crime, top officials of the Mathura police have drawn up elaborate plans to tighten the noose around criminals by intensify patrolling at night to check the movement of armed bandits, who operate across state borders and have been targeting pilgrims in the Govardhan and Vrindavan areas.

Senior Superintendent of Police Manzil Saini, who conducted a series of interactive exercises with the circle and station officers, said the directives of the director general of police (DGP) headquarters will be implemented in phases.

Police haves come under fire for failing to crack important cases in the past two months.

Police would soon begin the screening of tenants, ban all religious conversion programmes, arrest wanted criminals, and search dharamshalas and guest houses for wanted persons.

Hotel owners have also been informed to immediately report any suspicious activity by strangers.

The police will particularly step up security arrangements around the Mathura refinery, the Sri Krishna Janambhoomi complex, and the temples in Vrindavan, where CCTV cameras will keep a close watch.

Superintendent of Police (traffic) Ashutosh Dwivedi said vehicle checking will be a regular feature. Vehicles without valid papers would be seized and suspects will be arrested, he said.

Senior police officials said that the strength of constabulary in the district has to go up if effective policing is to be ensured. With regard to the bandits who trouble the innocent pigrims, he said that the Govardhan area, covering an expanse of 21 km, is exposed from all sides and the state borders are very close for offenders to escape.