By Our Correspondent
PURI/BHUBANESWAR: Backed by able leadership of DGP SK Bansal with timely support from ADGP(Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar and IGP(Central ) Ashish Kumar Singh, Puri Police led by able SP K Vishal Singh once again proved their crowd management skills during the World Famous Rath Yatra of Shree Lord Jagannatha in Odisha’s holy city of Puri.
This is Rath Yatra in Puri witnessed very heavy crowd. On the day of Rath Yatra Police took it as a Professional challenge, lot of briefing and re briefing was done, officers were sensitised and entire police arrangement was executed with a humane face and to facilitate the devotees to have a glimpse of the Lords. No untoward incidence happened .
Each and every devotee was happy and many have thanked Police personnel and officers personally and over social media. Puri Police with the help of senior officials is committed to perform the duty with utmost sincerity and professionalism and devotions. Proper coordination with district and Sri Jagannath Temple Administration was done in tandem to have flaw less arrangements and decision making in Rath Yatra.
Safety of Devotees from Property offences To ensure safety of devotees from property offence multiple anti snatching and anti Pickpocketing teams were constituted.
Police was able to nab 57 interstate snatching Gang members. They have been professional snatchers targeting big festival taking advantage of large crowd. Of these 15 belong to West Bengal, 9 Belong to Andhra Pradesh among other states including Odisha.
100 % reunion of Missing persons with their families. 24 missing person cases were reported. Police had Put missing person High Masts and designated police Aid Posts for missing persons. Missing persons availed these facilities and were provided temporary shelter and drinking water etc. within 24 hours of reporting,
All missing persons were re-united with their families. Drowning Prevention Squads, Expecting heavy influx of devotees at Beach Side, Whole Sea Beach was divided intomultiple sectors with deployment. Despite visit by thousands of devotees, No untoward incidence was reported from Sea Beach on Rath Yatra Day.
Facilitation of devotees
Highway and other areas Drinking water provision Other than security, biggest focus of Police has been facilitation of devotees for hassle free Darshan. Police did advance planning and did liasioning with highway restaurants and petrol pump owners. Drinking water and free toilet facility (especially for ladies) was arranged at 13 locations on Bhubaneswar Puri Highway. As per local feedback, tourists and especially ladies could avail this facility and got any further assistance at Police Aid Posts set up at these locations. Similarly drinking water was provided to devotees at various locations.
YuvaShakti
Special focus was given to super senior and specially abled devotees. A new initiative was launched before Rath Yatra – YuvaShakti. These YuvaShakti volunteers visited various residents at their homes, brought them for Darshan in specially designated vehicles, assisted in hassle free Darshan and dropped them back at their homes. Overwhelming response has been obtained by senior citizens due to this initiative by Police.
Traffic Regulation
Traffic regulation played a very important role in arrival and departure of devotees on Rath Yatra. This year due to very heavy inflow of traffic, management was challenging. About 800+ buses, 5000 cars(LMVs) and 18000+ 2 wheelers were regulated in 24 parking places by 2500 police personnel exclusively dedicated for traffic with the help of a 24×7 traffic helpline number, animated advisories on social media and multiple flaxes put up all over highway and different parts of Puri Town. Special traffic relaxations were provided for devotees with special abilities and battery operated vehicles were utilised to ensure their Darshan at 8 designated places with police assistance during chariot pulling at Badadanda. It was a well coordinated by Odisha Police.
