Director General of Police KB Singh on the Sunday reviewed the police preparedness for the Rath Yatra here, scheduled for July 6.
Speaking to mediapersons, Singh said security of life and property of pilgrims, deities and Raths has been given prime importance. These would be kept under special security cover. The entire city and suburbs have been given due importance, he informed.
Singh told that 145 platoons of armed police, 750 officers of various ranks,10 platoons of SOG, three companies of Rapid Action Force (RPF), two ODRAF teams, two Anti Terrorist Units, bomb detection and disposal units and dog squads would be deployed. These apart, patrolling on air, water and land would be intensified. While the Coast Guard and naval vessels would patrol along the Puri coast, the police personnel on helicopters would conduct aerial patrolling. No aircraft would be allowed to fly over Puri city during the Rath Yatra, stated the DGP.
Earlier on Saturday, a mock drill of the security personnel had been organised. Singh added that special police deployments would be made at railway stations, bus stand and at the sea beach to curb anti social activities. Police officers would monitor the integrated CCTV center to regulate the pilgrim crowd in the entire city.
Apart from DGP Singh, top police officials like Additional DGP Satyajit Mohanty, SK Roy, B Radhika, Soumendra Priyadarshi, RP Koche and Binaytosh Mishra were present.