Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Sept. 18: Police will crack down on habitual offenders this Dussehra in the twin cities to ensure a peaceful festive season. Stringent action will also be taken against those forcing people to hand over Puja "donations".
The cops will install high-resolution closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras at prominent locations in Cuttack. More than 35 CCTV cameras are usually installed on the traditional immersion route from Mangalabag to Debighat. This time, the cops plan to cover more areas this time.
Official sources said police of the twin cities plan to install about 50 cameras on the immersion route and 25 more at other prominent locations across the millennium city. The Puja committees in Cuttack that will have silver or gold filigree as backdrop have also been asked to install CCTVs at their respective pandals.
The move comes in the wake of a recent clash between two groups during the Khudurkuni melan ceremony held at Chauliaganj on September 14. Besides, pending territory disputes between sahi committees may trigger law and order problems during the festive season. Chauliaganj police have so far arrested five persons in connection with ransacking public property during the celebrations in the city.
"We plan to install more cameras at various locations compared to last year and presently we are working on a comprehensive strategy for strengthening security during the festival," said deputy commissioner of police, Cuttack, Sanjeev Arora. Arora said already instruction have been issued to the Puja committees to install CCTVs particularly in the pandals having silver and gold filigree as backdrop.
"We will extend cooperation to the police in ensuring peaceful Dusshera celebrations. We are hopeful of having a safe and trouble-free festival this year," said secretary, Cuttack Nagar Shanti Committee, Bhikari Das.
In Bhubaneswar, the cops have asked the Puja committees to rope in more volunteers to manage traffic. The cops will also deploy their men in plainclothes to keep a watch on mischief-makers. "A special drive has already been launched in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to book criminals. Stern action will be taken against those forcing people to give chanda (donations)," said police commissioner Y.B. Khurania. Dussehra will be celebrated at around 170 locations in Bhubaneswar, while Cuttack will have around 150 pandals.
In September 2011, the Saheed Nagar police arrested some youths for violence in the area. More than 60 youths from Rasulgarh, armed with sharp weapons and hockey sticks, had ransacked the Saheed Nagar market over a conflict related to Puja donations.
Again in September 2013, tension erupted in front of Kharvela Nagar police station following a clash between two groups of people. Once again, police linked the clash to collection of donations by two Puja committees in the area.
"The issue of forceful collection of donations has been raised at several police-public interface meetings in the city. The residents can either approach the police station concerned or inform the police by dialling 100. Police stations have been asked to take stringent action against those forcefully collecting donations," said deputy commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, Satyabrata Bhoi.
The cops have also asked Puja committees in the twin cities to take two-day training from fire personnel to act swiftly during emergencies. "A special drive will also be conducted against illegal sale of liquor. Adequate police personnel will be deployed at Puja pandals and at traffic junctions to manage traffic," added Bhoi.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has decided to install 15,000 LED lights at several places before the festival. "The civic body will also set up temporary toilets near pandals and ensure supply of safe drinking water," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
However, the major challenge for the police will be to regulate Bhubaneswar traffic with most of the important pandals coming up along the main roads. Traffic often goes haywire during Dussehra near pandals at Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, Rasulgarh, Chandrasekharpur and Old Station Bazaar and with hundreds of vehicles being parked on the roads. "We will ensure that the vehicles are not parked on the road, as this makes it difficult for devotees to have darshan of the deities," said a police official.
