Cuttack, Sept. 27: Police have put in place heavy security arrangements as Puja fervour gripped the city on Saptami.

While paramilitary forces have been deployed for foolproof security, a flag march was also conducted ahead of the festival in major thoroughfares of the city.

A police official said the flag march was part of a routine exercise to instil confidence among the people.

All the sensitive places in the city are being kept under strict vigil and adequate security measures are being maintained at all religious places. Those found indulging in illegal activities would be strictly dealt with, he said.

The city has been divided into four zones under a three-tier security arrangement, which includes plainclothes policemen, police video teams and anti-liquor squads. The police aid posts have also been set up at 23 places.

A sizeable number of security personnel have been deployed from the local police stations, while the rest have come from various battalions of the Odisha State Armed Police Force.

Police commissioner Y.B. Khurania said tight security arrangements had been made and 54 platoons of police and two companies of paramilitary jawans had been deployed.

'There is special watch on railway station, bus depot, markets and the 160 Puja mandaps across the city where idols have come up,' Khurania said.

According to an official release, 400 officials, including additional SPs, DSPs, assistant commandants, inspectors, SIs and ASIs, are on Puja duty.

Three special mobile teams have also been formed to keep a watch on illegal sale of liquor and other criminal elements during the festivities in various parts of the city.

A special surveillance is also being kept on hotels, restaurants and malls as part of the police strategy to prevent any untoward incidents in public places.

Cuttack DCP Akhileswar Singh said that over 50 CCTV cameras had been installed at prominent public places while officers and other personnel had been warned not to use mobile phones unnecessarily while on duty.

'Special emphasis has been given on the protection of idols decorated with chandi medhas (silver filigree backdrops) that have come up at 24 Puja mandaps in the city,' Singh said.

Armed personnel have been deployed at these mandaps for the protection of the gold and silver ornaments of the goddess and to take preventive action against mischief mongers.

Around 800 volunteers, nominated by the Puja committees, have been appointed special police officers to regulate the crowd and traffic near their respective mandaps.