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Cuttack: A large number of police perosnnel have been deployed in Cuttack in view of 5-day Durga puja, that begins on Thursday, and the looming cyclone which it is will hit Odisha.
City police commissioner R K Sharma said three quick reaction teams (QRTs), 14 anti-liquor squads and three anti-terrorist squads along with 40 platoons of armed police have been deployed in the city.
Phailin cyclone, which has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm, is expected to make a landfall on October 12 night possibly near Gopalpur.
Sharma said an additional 12 platoons of police would be deployed in the city for the immersion scheduled on October 15. There are 155 puja pandals in the city.
The management of traffic has been tightened with the city divided into four traffic zones and put under an ACP and deputy commandant.
Police said anti-terrorist squads would be deployed at all the three entry points at Jobra, Naraj and Balikuda.
Special police powers have been given to at least 953 civilians drawn from all the puja committees and will be known as special police officers (SPOs) who will work in close coordination with the police. At least five volunteers from each puja mandap would also assit the police in traffic management, the police said.
The community pandals been classified into three categories and police deployments have been made accordingly, the police added.
