Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday, security measures have been tightened across the State, said DGP KB Singh on Sunday.
Singh said police and other security forces have been asked to remain on high alert, particularly in the Maoist-infested districts. Additional forces have been deployed, and all the vehicles entering the border districts are being frisked.
During the parade in the State capital, 25 platoons of police forces would be deployed and 50 CCTV cameras would keep watch on the proceedings.
Meanwhile, a full-dress parade rehearsal was held at Mahatma Gandhi Marg in the city. All the troupes that would participate in the Independence Day parade joined it. DGP Singh informed that for the first time ITBP, Odisha Swift Action Force, ODRAF contingents have been included in the parade.
“We have been very selective in choosing the participating contingents. last time, there were 65 contingents, but this year we chose 53 teams to improve quality,” said Singh.
In a related development, CPI(Maoist)’s Balangir-Bargarh-Mahasamund divisional committee on Sunday released an audio tape calling upon people to celebrate August 15 as a ‘black day’.
Claiming an increase in unlawful activities, cases of torture on villagers and exploitation in the State, a spokesperson of the Maoist division, Budhuram Paharia, urged people to hoist black flags instead of the Tricolour on August 15.
In the audio tape, the Maoist division also mentioned about a rise in famers’ suicide in the State. “The Independence Day is being celebrated only symbolically,” the Maoists said.