Three-Tier Security Cover For Budget Session Of Odisha Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Ahead of the Budget session of Odisha Assembly,  Director General of Police (DGP) Sunil Bansal on Monday reviewed the security arrangements.

Special security arrangements are being made for the session beginning on Tuesday in view of the broad daylight murder of Health Minister Naba Kishore Das at Brajarajnagar on January 29, sources said, adding that the aim is to prevent any untoward incident.

A three-tier security net is being thrown in and around the Assembly building as elaborate arrangements are being made by the police for the session, the DGP said.

“A 30-platoon police force will be deployed under a three-tier security arrangement, which will be supervised by around senior officers,” Bansal said.

Uniformed police personnel will be deployed at the inner cordon of the assembly while some will look after the security arrangements at the entrance gates.

Keeping in view the protest rallies, tight security arrangements have also been made in the vicinity and the Mahatma Gandhi Marg. Two DCPs, ten Additional DCPs, 11 ACPs, 13 IICs, and 62 ASIs have been engaged in the high-security zone.

Five Controls rooms have been set up to keep a vigil on the movement of the crowd. Intelligence Department sleuths, striking force, quick response teams, Special technical teams, armed police personnel, and rooftop security, have also been deployed.

Besides, special units of the police force with expertise in anti-terrorist operations have been kept ready. They can be pressed into service whenever required.

The Budget Session is slated to commence with the Governor’s customary address to the House at 11 am. The annual state budget for 2023-24 is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari in the house on February 24. The session, to be held in two phases, is scheduled to conclude on April 6.

The first phase of the 12^th session of the 16^th Assembly will be held from February 21 to March 2, while the second phase is scheduled to be conducted between March 10 and April 6, the sources added.