Bhubaneswar: Around 200 platoons of police forces will be deployed at key locations across the state due to the Hanuman Jayanti celebrations set to take place tomorrow. The State Police have put in place elaborate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful observance of the festival, which coincides with ‘Pana Sankranti’—the Odia New Year.
This information was provided by the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Sanjay Kumar, during a press conference on Sunday.
“We are prepared for the smooth execution of the celebrations with the necessary arrangements in place. Following a high-level law and order review via video conferencing, about 10 platoons of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and three platoons of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) will be stationed in areas considered sensitive or prone to disturbances. Additionally, around 200 platoons of police forces will be deployed at key locations across the state,” said Additional D.G. of Police (L&O) Sanjay Kumar.
In an effort to strengthen surveillance, authorities will deploy advanced technologies such as drones and CCTV cameras.
“Around 650 CCTV cameras have been installed in major cities and towns along the procession routes. In addition, 40 drones will be utilized to provide live feeds, which will be monitored in an integrated control room,” Kumar explained.
Integrated control rooms have been set up in each district, with senior police officers overseeing the operations. For larger districts, two to three sub-control rooms have been established to ensure comprehensive monitoring.
To further enhance security, twenty special vehicles equipped with 360-degree PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras have been dispatched to Sambalpur. These vehicles will transmit real-time feeds to the police headquarters for immediate action.
Additionally, barricading will be implemented in sensitive zones, and body-worn cameras will be used by officers involved in crowd control to ensure better monitoring and accountability.
The police will also be monitoring social media platforms for posts that may incite unrest.
“We are committed to taking strict action against anyone found disturbing public order, including miscreants and anti-social elements,” stated Kumar, referencing directives from the DGP of Odisha.
Given the ongoing heatwave conditions, the police are taking proactive measures to ensure the well-being of both the public and personnel on duty. Arrangements for oral rehydration salts (ORS), drinking water, and ambulance services have been made.
District Collectors and Superintendents of Police have been instructed to oversee local arrangements and provide updates to the state headquarters by the evening.
