Bhubaneswar: Durga Puja is the major festival of Cuttack city and is long awaited by the residents. Therefore, it will be the prime focus of the Commissionerate Police to let the denizens enjoy the festival without any hindrance, said Twin City Police Commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi on Friday.
After a review meeting of the security arrangements for the festival in Cuttack, Sarangi said that it will be the effort of the Commissionerate Police to establish coordination with various committees and volunteers to celebrate the festival peacefully.
He has advised police officers to reach at their place of deployment on time and not to leave their post till the crowd is completely dispersed. Besides, they will give suggestions to the puja committees and volunteers in their place of posting and work in coordination with them for crowd management.
Sarangi said that deployment during the immersion of the idols takes a toll on police officers as they have to work for long hours. In view of this, puja committees have been asked to start the immersion procession early and follow the given guidelines without creating any tension among them.
He also informed that presently 57 platoon of police force have been deployed in the city along with aid-posts set up at different locations. Besides, police force will be deployed at each puja pandal, who will be in contact with the control room and availability of emergency services have been ensured.
Cuttack DCP Akhileshvar Singh informed that 30 aid-post have been set up for the Durga puja celebrations while seven more will be added during the immersion of the Durga idols. While 50 platoon of police force will be deployed during normal puja days, 57 platoons will be deployed during the immersion procession.
Forces have been deployed at different mandaps and the organisers have been asked to install CCTV cameras at the mandap premises. Besides, striking force deployed at three police stations – Manglabag, Dargha Bazar and Purighat along with an officer.
He further informed that the Commissionerate Police will conduct a route march today from 5 PM to 7 PM today. Besides, the Cuttack city has been divided into two zones and two police officers will be leading separate night patrolling teams in order to control theft and other crimes.