Cuttack: The Commissionerate Police is leaving no stone unturned to ensure smooth conduct of Durga Puja celebrations in the millennium city of Cuttack. However, members of several puja committees expressed concern as Barabati-Cuttack MLA Mohammed Moquim was not invited to the preparatory meeting organised by Commissionerate Police yesterday.
General Secretary Of Cuttack Mahanagar Purbanchal Shanti Committee, Prafulla Sahu,said, “We had no information regarding who all were invited by Commissionerate Police to attend the meeting. However, as he (Moquim) is an elected people’s representative, he should have been called to the meeting,” said Sahu.
Sahu further stated that only Police Commissioner can say about the goof up. “As Cuttack is known for its brotherhood and religious harmony, we feel that such issues will be resolved,” Sahu added.
Secretary of Station Bazar Puja Committee, Subashish Patnaik, stated, “It is unfortunate that the sitting MLA was not invited to the coordination meeting.”
Clarifying on his absence, MLA Mohammed Moquim said, “I had no information about the meeting convened by Commissionerate Police.”
Though Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi stated that all the members of Puja and Shanti Committee attended the meeting, he refused to comment on the absence of sitting MLA at the meeting.
At the preparatory meeting, senior police officials stressed on putting a check on noise pollution and installation of CCTV cameras at various puja pandals across the city.
The Commissionerate Police also handed over a set of instructions to several puja committees with the emphasis on complete ban on DJs this year. Special Police Officers (SPOs) from each puja committees will be appointed to regulate traffic and make necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the festival.
“We have urged puja committees to check noise pollution and all the organisers have agreed to follow the guidelines,” said Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi.