Durga Puja: Tight security blanket in Odisha Capital, 31 police platoons to ensure smooth festival celebrations

With Durga Puja just around the corner, Odisha Capital Bhubaneswar will be put under a thick security blanket to avoid any untoward incident during the festival celebrations.

As per the Twin City Commissionerate Police, 31 platoons of police force will be deployed in Bhubaneswar from October 20-25. It includes 12 Additional DCPs, 23 ACPs, 41 Inspectors, 151 ASI, 119 Traffic Constables, 70 APR Constables and 207OAPF Constables.

The police will not only undertake blocking and checking on Bhubaneswar roads, but the movement of heavy vehicles will be restricted too.

The Puja mandaps have been divided into three categories. The police have already undertaken a joint inspection with all the concerned departments in this regard.

All the security arrangements will be monitored by the Commissionerate police 24*7 from six control rooms set up in the Smart City. Surveillance cameras will be used to monitor too.

The police have issued a toll-free number to report extortion and forceful donation demands from miscreants during puja.

Speaking about the security arrangements, Police Commissioner Saumendra Priyadarshi said, “The primary responsibility of the police during this time is our presence at puja mandaps for crowd management. We have set up six control rooms to respond to any emergency situation. We have deployed striking force at several places to intervene if necessary.”

“We are in continuous touch with the puja committees to ensure a smooth coordination with them,” informed Priyadarshi.

He also urged the residents to beware of the safety of their homes while out to see Puja.

Bhubaneswar will see 188 mandaps observing Durga Puja this year.