Rath Yatra gets underway tomorrow under elaborate security

Ahmedabad, Jul 3 (UNI) Over 10,000 city police personnel have been deployed as the 131st annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath gets underway tomorrow from the ancient Jagannath temple in the Jamalpur area of the walled city.

Police force have been put on a high alert for the rath yatra as it falls on Friday, which gives a psychological fear-factor to citizens of both communities and the security agencies, a top rank officer on condition of anonymity told UNI here today.

Besides the 10,000 personnel of the city police, para-military forces, Jawans of Rapid Action Force, CRPF, Horse-Mounted Police, SRP, BSF have also been pressed into service to ensure peaceful and harmonious passing out of the Yatra, police sources said.

The officials of the intelligence bureau and plainclothes police personnel will also mingle with citizens to keep a tight vigil on every movement of anti-social and disruptive elements.

Each of the over 100 floats (trucks), around 30 ''Akharas'', 18 ''Bhajan Mandalis'' and three musical bands, participating in the procession, will be manned by a police team led by an officer of the rank of Assistant sub-inspector.

Police have also chalked out a special security strategy to ensure safety of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath (Krishna), his brother Lord Balram and sister Shubhadra in case of any emergency.

In addition, the over 2000 ''sadhus'', including Naga Bavas, from Hardwar, Ayodhya, Nashik, Ujjain and other parts, will also be guarded well by the security agencies.

MORE UNI MP OBB SW AS1816