Kataka: A comprehensive security blueprint has been finalised for the world-famous Puri Rath Yatra, scheduled for July 16, with a three-tier system ensuring surveillance across land, water, and air.
The plan was unveiled during a high-level coordination meeting chaired by Odisha Director General of Police (DGP) Y.B. Khurania at the State Police Headquarters on Tuesday.
To counter potential threats, including terrorism, joint sea patrolling will be carried out by the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and marine police units. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) will be deployed on vessels, while advanced drone and anti-drone systems will monitor and neutralise aerial threats.
The meeting also reviewed deployment strategies for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), National Security Guard (NSG) teams, and NSG Quick Response units. The DGP emphasised enhanced coordination among the Odisha Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Indian Coast Guard to ensure seamless security management during the festival.
Anti-sabotage checks will be intensified at key locations, with strict surveillance on suspicious activities. Bomb Disposal Squads and sniffer dog teams will remain on high alert to respond swiftly to emergencies.
Additional measures include the deployment of security vehicles near the temple, K-9 squads, NSG-trained Special Operations Group (SOG) teams, and Special Tactical Unit (STU) personnel.
Authorities will also focus on crowd management, traffic regulation, and emergency response systems. Special arrangements will be made to prevent stampedes, ensure orderly chariot pulling, install barricades, and facilitate smooth darshan for devotees.
Strict action will be taken against habitual offenders involved in theft, pickpocketing, and robbery, especially in trains and railway stations. Photographs of identified criminals will be displayed at key public locations and shared with the RPF for monitoring.
Special drives will be conducted across police station areas in Puri to curb crime. Intensive checks will be carried out at hotels, lodges, mutts, temples, bus stands, railway stations, labour accommodations, and dharamshalas.
Senior officials of the Odisha Police, along with representatives from central agencies such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Indian Coast Guard, attended the meeting and reviewed all critical aspects of security for the grand event.