Bhubaneswar: On the eve of Ram Navami, personnel from the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and Odisha Police conducted flag marches throughout the state, as reported by law enforcement officials.
In anticipation of the celebrations, extensive security measures have been implemented in key locations such as Sambalpur, Cuttack, Balasore, and Bhadrak, taking into account their historical sensitivities and previous incidents.
Sambalpur, which experienced communal unrest earlier this year, has been fortified with the deployment of 15 platoons, comprising police, BSF, and CRPF personnel.
To ensure safety, 113 CCTV cameras and drones are actively monitoring the city, according to Sambalpur's Additional SP, Ajay Mishra.
Cuttack has also ramped up security, with 25 platoons of police on standby to uphold order, as stated by Cuttack DCP Khilari Rishikesh Dnyandeo.
The police are coordinating with various puja committees to facilitate a peaceful Ram Navami celebration.
In Balasore and Bhadrak, where the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, similar security protocols have been established.
In Bhadrak, 26 platoons of security forces are on duty, with comparable arrangements in Balasore.
Satyajit Nayak, DIG of the Eastern Range, mentioned that surveillance has been heightened in both districts, with CCTV cameras installed along procession routes and drones monitoring crowd movements.
He urged the public to disregard misleading social media posts and to report any concerns to the police control room, emphasizing the importance of community peace meetings.
You may also like
Jedward star suffered terrifying cancer scare during Celebrity Big Brother
Football match ends in chaos as fans invade pitch and parents 'cover children's eyes'
CM Mohan Charan Majhi leaves for Delhi to attend Odisha Investors Meet
Vanessa Feltz hits back at LBC caller in heated 'mansplaining' row
'I was put on the stand aged 7 to help jail my mum for life for my sister's murder'