Odisha Police To Step Up Security For VVIPs During Election Campaign

Cuttack: With the Election Commission of India (ECI) announcing dates for general and assembly elections, the Odisha Police, in a high-level meeting here on Monday, had an elaborate discussion on full proof security arrangement for top leaders and VVIPs during their visit to the state.

Presiding over the meeting at the State Police headquarters here in the afternoon, Director General of Police (DGP) Dr RP Sharma in a video conferencing with the police commissioner, Range IGs, DIGs, DCPs and SPs, said that top leaders and VVIPs would visit the state to campaign. This will require adequate and full proof security arrangement.

The DGP further said that the Government of India, as per threat perceptions has categories and prescribed scale of security arrangements for different national and state level political leaders. Since there may be the possibilities of anti-social activities which may disturb the election process, the SPs should be adequately sensitized keeping in view the history of the attacks on VIPs in the past.

Senior officers and experts from the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Special Protection Group (SPG) and National Security Guard (NSG) attended the programme and apprised the officers of the possibilities of multi-faceted security threats to the VVIPs during the election campaign.

Following are the precautionary and preparatory measures suggested by these officials during the visit of VVIPs and other dignitaries:

1. Different types of security arrangement for different categories of dignitaries.
2. Security arrangement for the Prime Minister as prescribed in the Blue Book.
3. Close coordination of the SPs with the SPG officials during the visit of the PM.
4. Liaisoning of the SPs with the local organizers during the public meeting or road shows.
5. Selection of meeting venue needs to be done keeping the security angles in view.
6. Adequate steps should be taken for effective crowd control.
7. Parking place should be selected at a safe distance from the meeting place.
8. Adequate light arrangement in the dais as well as meeting place.
9. Limited number of people should be allowed on the dais during VVIP programme.
10. Steps to avoid fire hazards and other man-made accidents during public meetings.
11. Fire-fighting equipment shall be kept in readiness.
12. Adequate checking and frisking of people during the public meeting.
13. Special security arrangement during VVIPs road shows.
14. Use of sniffer dog, explosive detector, CCTV and other electronic gadgets to strengthen the security.
15. Preparation and safety of helipads.
16. Use of radio communication and navigation equipment by the crew members of the helicopter carrying VVIPs.
17. Contingency planning for any untoward incident during the election campaign.
18. Proper certification from GED, Fire Service, PWD and other line departments involved in the preparation of stage, barricading and helipads.
19. Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for road shows of VVIPs to be strictly followed.
20. There should be adequate clearance all around the stage.
21. Adequate barricading to be done in the meeting place.
22. Duty passes to be issued to the officers on duty.
23. Double checking of people in the front sector of the meeting place.