Security measures being put in place to ensure peaceful Durga Puja celebrations in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Elaborate security measures are being taken to ensure peaceful and smooth celebrations of the upcoming Durga puja festval in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, a top police official said. [caption id=“attachment_4065469” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] As many as 79 platoons of police force — 25 in Bhubaneswar and 54 in the silver city of Cuttack — would be deployed to maintain law and order during the week-long celebrations. Commissioner of police, YB Khurania said elaborate security arrangements are being made to ensure hassle-free celebrations of Durga Puja, Dussehra and Ravana Podi Utsav and idol immersion in the twin cities. All necessary steps have been taken for effective traffic management, he said adding personnel of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Quick Action Team (QAT) would also be deployed. Personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) would also be utilised for maintaining a watch on anti-social elements and preventing any untoward incident during the festivities, police said. The elite Special Operation Group (SOG) would also be ready to counter any threat from terror groups. Precautionary measures like detention of notorious criminals and history-sheeters under the National Security Act (NSA) have been taken by the police. Puja organisers have been asked to install CCTV cameras on the pandals to keep a tab on movement of people and crowd behaviour, he said adding, plainclothes policemen would also be engaged near puja venues. Over 340 pandals are being erected for worshipping Goddess Durga in the two cities where extra vigil would be maintained near venues with decoration using gold and silver, police said.