**Bhubaneswar:** In the wake of escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the Director General of Police, Dr RP Sharma has ordered the district police SPs to be in a state of alert. Policemen guarding Maoist-affected districts, coastal areas and tourist destinations have been asked to be extra-vigilant and on alert.
Odisha has 485 kilometres of coastline along the Bay of Bengal from Balasore to Ganjam districts. The strategic eastern-State houses many important installations including the Integrated Test Range at Abdul Kalam Island, Paradip Port, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited factory in Koraput and the Ordnance factory in Bolangir.
The district machinery has been alerted that they should remain at their postings and if they find any unusual activity, they should report immediately and take remedial actions, a senior police official said.
A high-level meeting on security and preparedness was chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi today at the State Secretariat. Dr Sharma, senior officers of the Home Department, Indian Navy and Coast Guard were present in the meeting.
The DGP has asked state intelligence agencies to collect and share vital inputs to avert untoward incidents, said sources. Busy thoroughfares, temples and heritage sites are under strict vigil after tension prevailed on the India Pakistan border.
