Senior police officers visit Assembly on Wednesday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 27: Police have made elaborate security arrangements on and around the Assembly premises, including the Mahtama Gandhi Marg, as the winter session is scheduled to begin tomorrow.

Mahatma Gandhi Marg remains chock-a-block with rallies and demonstrations by various organisations during every Assembly session.

A police officer said there would be three-tier security arrangement around the Assembly with forces deployed on the campus, at the three gates and on roads leading towards the building.

However, the major focus of the police would be the Mahatma Gandhi Marg where demonstrations and rallies are held. “We have installed three electronic boom barriers at the three entrance and exits of the Assembly to check vehicles. Installation of boom barriers has been done for the first time in the Assembly. Earlier security forces used to manually stop and check vehicles,” said a police officer.

The boom barriers are electronic devices installed at the gates to prevent entry of any vehicle inside. Later, a camera would be fixed at the boom barrier gate to take the photographs of vehicle registration numbers, which would help identify the owner of the vehicle in case of any mishap. The control room on the campus would manage the operation of these entrance.

The major concern for the city police is to keep vigil around the Assembly as many groups and organisations hold protest demonstrations. Sometimes, they try to enter into the Assembly breaking the security barricades. At least eight barricades have been erected on the road to prevent protesters from trying to enter into the prohibited areas around the Assembly. Barricades have also been erected on all the roads passing near the building to obstruct rally-holders from coming close to the Assembly.

“Around 37 platoons of police force will be deployed for security arrangements during the session. Closed-circuit television cameras have been installed at many places, including on the Assembly campus, to keep a watch on crowd and trouble mongers among protesters. Besides, plainclothes policemen will keep eyes on protesters,” said police commissioner R.P. Sharma.

While the commissioner will be in charge of the total security arrangement, two deputy police commissioners and three additional deputy police commissioners will assist him. Besides,12 assistant commissioners, 10 inspectors and 102 sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors will be deployed at different places. Striking forces and four quick response teams will be kept ready. A watchtower has been made on Mahatma Gandhi Marg, where security officials will be deployed to keep a watch on the crowd.