Rath Yatra Would Be Peaceful With Lord’s Blessings: CM

Puri: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday exuded confidence over peaceful conduct of Rath Yatra.

“I reviewed arrangements and with the Lord’s blessings, everything will go well and safely,” he told mediapersons after presiding over the special review meeting at the conference hall of Gopabandhu Ayurvedic College here.

The chief minister sought cooperation of the temple servitors for timely conduct of the rituals of the Lords.

The meeting also discussed other issues including security, parking facilities, traffic monitoring, health and sanitation, drainage and accommodation for the devotees.

Director General of Police RP Sharma said crowd management and safety of the devotees would be given priority during the festival.

Security-related matters were discussed with Railway Police and Coastal Security agencies at the meeting, the top cop said.

Talking about the security arrangement, he said 140 platoons of police force, two units of Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Odisha Swift Action Force will be deployed along the Bada Danda (Grand Road). Besides, 800 policemen will also be mobilized in and outside the temple premises.

Earlier in the day, some people hurled tomatoes at the vehicle of the chief minister near the RTO office on the Chakratirtha Road while he was on his way to attend the review meeting.

Prior to this incident, several Congress workers waved black flag at the chief minister near the Town Hall and Sadar Police Station. Police detained around 45 of them.

Besides, activists of Lulu Sena and Jagannath Sena were also detained by police as they were protesting against the visit of the chief minister.