Puri: Odisha Police has announced a detailed security plan for the upcoming Rath Yatra scheduled for July 16, which is anticipated to attract a massive number of attendees, as stated by an official on Wednesday.
This security strategy emphasizes crowd management, traffic oversight, and emergency readiness on land, while utilizing drones and anti-drone technology for aerial security.
A collaborative patrol effort between the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and the Odisha Police Maritime Station will be established at sea, with quick response teams (QRTs) ready to be deployed on vessels, according to the official.
The security outline was presented during a coordination meeting held on Tuesday, where critical agencies such as the CRPF, BSF, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and Indian Coast Guard were involved to ensure a safe and well-organized event. The meeting was led by Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP), Y B Khurania.
In-depth discussions regarding the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), National Security Guard (NSG) teams, and NSG Quick Response Teams were conducted. The DGP directed the Railway Protection Force and Indian Coast Guard to collaborate closely to enhance this year’s security measures.
Odisha Police issued a statement indicating that anti-sabotage inspections will be intensified at key locations, along with vigilant monitoring of suspicious activities. “Furthermore, a plan has been established to keep bomb disposal units and sniffer dog teams on alert at all times to effectively manage any emergency situations,” the statement noted.
In addition, the DGP elaborated on the strategic placement of security vehicles near the temple, the deployment of K-9 units, the NSG-trained Special Operations Group (SOG), and Special Tactical Units (STU).
Special arrangements have also been made to prevent stampedes, which includes provisions for police accommodations, orderly transportation, barricade setups, prompt issue resolution in cooperation with district authorities, and organized ‘darshan’ for devotees.
The DGP has mandated strict measures against repeat offenders involved in theft and robbery on trains and at stations. To monitor these individuals, photographs of known criminals will be displayed at significant public venues, railway stations, and police stations, with copies also sent to the RPF.
Khurania has initiated a special campaign across all police stations focusing on crime reduction in Puri city. He has instructed the local police to conduct thorough inspections of hotels, lodges, monasteries, temples, bus stations, railway stations, worker accommodations, and dharmshalas.
A total of 12,000 police officers will be deployed for the nine-day Rath Yatra festival commencing on July 16, according to officials.
