Bhubaneswar, July 7 (IANS) Ahead of the world-famous Puri Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra scheduled to be held on July 16, Odisha Police on Tuesday held a high-level coordination meeting and finalised a comprehensive multi-layered security plan involving Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), the Indian Coast Guard, and other security agencies to ensure the annual sacred festival is held peacefully and without any security lapses.

The meeting, chaired by Director General of Police (DGP) Yogesh Bahadur Khurania at the State Police Headquarters in Cuttack, was attended by senior officers of the Odisha Police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Indian Coast Guard and other security agencies.

The DGP reviewed the deployment strategy for the CAPFs, National Security Guard (NSG) teams and NSG Quick Response Teams (QRTs), while directing Odisha Police, the RPF and the Coast Guard to work in close coordination throughout the festival.

According to an official statement, a security blueprint has been prepared that includes a three-tier security arrangement with surveillance across land, sea, and air.

The Odisha Police further added that special emphasis was also placed on crowd management, traffic regulation, emergency response, and inter-agency coordination during the meeting.

It added that joint maritime patrolling will be carried out by the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and the Odisha Police’s Marine Police to counter any possible terrorist threat. The QRTs will also be deployed on patrol vessels, while advanced anti-drone systems and surveillance drones will be used to detect and neutralise any aerial threat. Anti-sabotage checks will be intensified at all sensitive locations, and Bomb Disposal Squads and sniffer dog teams will remain on high alert.

The DGP also reviewed arrangements for the deployment of K-9 squads, NSG-trained Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel, and Special Tactical Unit (STU) teams, as well as measures to prevent stampedes, strengthen barricading, ensure orderly pulling of the chariots, and facilitate smooth darshan for devotees.

Khurania directed strict action against habitual offenders involved in pickpocketing, theft and robbery on board trains and at railway stations. To keep a close watch on their movements, photographs of identified criminals will be displayed at prominent public places, railway stations and railway police stations.

He also directed that copies of these photographs be shared with RPF officials to facilitate coordinated surveillance and preventive action.

In the high-level meeting, the DGP held detailed discussions on the deployment of security vehicles ‘Rakshak’, K-9 squads, NSG-trained SOG personnel and STU teams near the Jagannath Temple.

He reviewed measures to prevent stampede-like situations, ensure adequate accommodation and logistics for police personnel, facilitate the orderly withdrawal of the chariots, strengthen barricade arrangements, maintain close coordination with the district administration to promptly resolve any issues, and make special arrangements to ensure smooth, orderly darshan for devotees. Crime control and passenger safety have also been accorded top priority in the meeting.

He directed police officials to launch special drives against habitual offenders involved in theft, robbery and pickpocketing, particularly at railway stations and aboard trains. Intensive verification drives will also be conducted at hotels, lodges, monasteries, temples, bus stands, railway stations, labour camps and Dharamshalas across Puri.

Khurania instructed senior officers to maintain close monitoring of every aspect of the security and management plan to ensure a safe, seamless and incident-free Ratha Yatra.

–IANS

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