Elaborate security for Puri car festival

Puri, June 21: Special security arrangements like bomb disposal units, dog squad, snipers, long range movie cameras besides close circuit TVs will be deployed in this pilgrim city to face any eventuality in the Car festival (Rath Yatra) commencing from June 27.

Director General of Police (Fire Brigade and Home Guards) Amarananda Pattnaik, appointed security in charge of the car festival, told newsmen here the state police had made elaborate arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra commencing on June 27 next.

Apart from deployment of regular police personnel, dog squad would be pressed into service to detect explosive materials while bomb disposal units would also be deployed, Mr Pattnaik said.

As per the contingency plan huge metal detector frames would be installed at the Sri Jagannath temple and Gundicha temple gates.

Snipers would be posted at roof tops keeping an eye over the crowd.

He said four long range movie cameras would be installed at various positions along the grand road to monitor the movement of the pilgrims. Close circuit TV cameras would be installed in the temple complex to keep a track of the miscreants.

The DG said special police officers would be requisitioned from 12 other states to identify the criminals and terrorists if any entering into the city during the nine day long festival.

. Three companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) would be deployed in the holy city. The coast guard personnel would patrol the coast near the city to intercept any suspicious craft heading for the city. Mr Pattnaik said plain clothed intelligence officials would keep a watch on all the routes leading to the city while Hotels and all accommodation facilities in the city would be searched.

According to Puri Superintendent of Police Sanjib Panda 62 platoons of OSAP, 9 Additional SPs, 42 DSPs, 120 Inspectors, 500 Sub -Inspectors and 240 other rank policemen besides 900 home guards and RPF personnel would be engaged in the security arrangements for the festival.

Six temporary police out posts would be set up at various places to cater to the need of the visitors. A number of armed patrol units would cover the entire city to act swiftly against any subversive attempts.

The vehicular traffic, Mr Panda said, would be regulated on specific days of the fete and one way route from Bhubaneswar to Puri would be introduced on Rath yatra day, the return car festival and Suna Vesha day.

Over six to eight lakh visitors are expected to congregate the pilgrim city on these occasions. Arrangements would be made to avoid traffic disruption and road mishaps during the festival, he added.

UNI