Dussehra: CCTV Cameras Made Mandatory For Puja Pandals In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure peaceful celebration of Dussehra this year, the Commissionerate Police has directed all puja pandals in Odisha capital to instal CCTV cameras.

Speaking to media persons on security arrangements for Dussehra, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh said the police were carrying out stringent checking at the entry and exit points of the city to track the movement of anti-socials.

All the accused booked under Section 110 of CrPC have been instructed to appear before respective police stations before Dussehra. If they fail to appear, stringent action including arrest would be taken against them, the DCP said.

All police stations have been carrying out White Spider Operation regularly for checking brown sugar and duplicate liquor smuggling. As many as 38 cases have been registered under the operation this month. Those include 25 cases related to brown sugar smuggling and 13 regarding illegal ganja trade, he added.

Stating that the Commissionerate Police would keep a sharp eye on the anti-socials with feed from the CCTV cameras installed across the city, the DCP said all puja committees have been directed to instal such cameras throughout Dussehra after discussion with their representatives.

Special teams have been constituted to check snatching and pickpockets at crowded places, while police personnel in civil clothes would be deployed to keep a watch on nuisance mongers, the DCP said.

Expecting heavy crowd at puja pandals, Meena Bazaars and entertainment programmes at night, regulation of traffic movement has also been made, he added.

Earlier, Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das had said Durga Puja will be celebrated in a grand manner in the city this year. The city will have 178 Durga puja pandals, which is more than those being erected in Cuttack, and cultural programmes at puja pandals will be allowed till midnight, she added.

Also Read: Bhubaneswar DCP Meets Puja Committees As City Gears Up For Grand Dussehra – odishabytes