Bhubaneswar: Director General of Police Abhay, along with several other senior police officers, visited Puri on Sunday to take stock of security arrangements for Rath Yatra nine days from July 12.
“Puri SP will soon finish the security blueprint.
Given the Covid-19 pandemic, the government has banned the participation of worshipers at Rath Yatra.
I appealed to worshipers to stay at home for their good health and watch the live broadcast of the Festival on the TV screen and cellphone .
I hope the worshipers will work with us as they did last year, “Abhay said.
Director (Intelligence) Lalit Das, ADG (Law and Order) R K Sharma, IG (Central Kisaran) Narasingh Bhol, Dig (Intelligence) Anup Kumar Sahoo and Puri SP, Kanwar Vishal Singh attended the Rath Review meeting.
The source said this year’s security settings will be almost similar to last year.
Overall 76 platoon police and 400 officers were deployed during Rath Yatra last year, which was also celebrated without the participation of worshipers due to pandemics.
“Like last year, our focus will enforce the barrier command below the 144 part of the CRPC and prevent worshipers from coming to the Grand Road and near the temple.
Because the control of the crowd will not be a problem, we will not seek the spread of fast action power during the festival.
About 60 cameras CCTV will be installed along the Grand Road, “another police officer said.
Unlike last year, police personnel would not pull the train.
Administration only allows servants with RT-PCR negative reports to attract trains from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha temple (God’s birthplace).
“Because the police will not pull the train, we may not do a RT-PCR test from all police personnel, who will serve in Rath.
Only it is, who must be near or Cordon on the train, will be carried out to undergo a RT-PC test.
Personnel The police will not be present in the temple during the Dewa Pahandia procession from the Sanctum Sanctorum to the train, “the officer said.