Sambalpur under tight security blanket for Hanuman Jayanti celebrations

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in Sambalpur town on Friday with the deployment of a large contingent of security personnel to ensure a peaceful celebration of Hanuman Jayanti which coincides with Pana Sankranti.

As many as 40 platoon of police forces have been deployed in the city to prevent any untoward incidents during processions and programmes on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti celebration today.

As per reports, a huge procession will be carried out from Brukspal Hanuman temple in the evening. After ‘Maha Alati’ and other rituals at the District College Square, the grand procession accompanied by music and dance will cover Laxmi Talkies Square, Bela Bazar Square to reach Shakti Square eventually. Simultaneously, other processions from different areas will also reach Shakti Square through different routes. Moreover, many other small processions will be taken out from different Hanuman temples in the afternoon and evening.

Several kinds of traditional folk music and dances will be performed during the processions. Elaborate security arrangement has been made along the roads, where the processions will be carried out, to maintain law and order. As part of its preparation, Sambalpur police had conducted a flag march along Motijharana road till Gengutipali. As per police sources, stern action will be taken against the miscreants for causing any kind of disturbance during the celebration.

Meanwhile, Hanuman Jayanti Coordination Committee in the town has requested all to take part in the processions.

Notably, Lord Hanuman will be worshipped as per the traditional rituals at various temples in the town throughout the day. Thousands of devotees will make beelines near the temples to offer their worship to Lord Hanuman.

Meanwhile, a team of BJP leaders will review the law and order situation in Sambalpur today in the aftermath of violence that occurred during a bike rally ahead of the Hanuman Jayanti. A high-level team of the State BJP has visited Sambalpur in this regard. As per the direction of the Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, the team comprising other leaders like Mukesh Mahalinga, Subash Panigrahi, Nauri Nayak and Biranchi Narayan Tripathi under the leadership of Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra will take stock of the situation.

The BJP delegation will meet the injured persons in the hospital. Later they will meet various organisations, Collector and police administration and hold discussions about the law and order situation in the town.

Meanwhile, some shops were gutted in arson at VSS Marg late Thursday night. Upon being informed, fire services personnel rushed to the spot and doused the fire. North-Central Zone DIG Brijesh Roy and Sambalpur SP also reached the spot and supervised the operation. However, the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.