Puri Police Set to Become People-Friendly Via Facebook

Puri Police has launched a Facebook page for the benefit of the pilgrims and tourists who will visit the Pilgrim Town during Nabakalebara next year.

The page contains telephone numbers of police control room and e-mail address of senior police officers including the SP. People can also send their complaints and suggestions on security provisions to the e-mail address puripolice@gmail.com and nabakalebar.policeportal@gmail.com, said Puri SP Asish Kumar Singh. Besides, toll-free number 1800 200 2524 has been launched to provide immediate police assistance.

Five complaint-cum-suggestion boxes have been put up at the Jagannath temple, railway station, bus stand, sea beach and Sunargouranga.

The SP said criminal audit of every family living in slums would be carried out to keep an eye on the criminal elements who usually take shelter in these areas. To keep a tab on fake travel and tour operators, Singh has directed all the existing operators to register themselves with the administration within a fortnight. The unregistered travel and tour agencies will be closed down after the deadline.

A joint action team comprising Government Railway Police, Railway Protection Force and local police has been formed to arrest ticket brokers at the railway station and bus stand.

Over 30 lakh devotees are expected to throng Puri to witness the Nabakalebara which will be celebrated in June next year after a gap of 19 years.

The existing idols of the Trinity and Sudarshan will be replaced by a new set of idols. Preparations for Nabakalebara would begin from March next year and culminate with Rath Yatra on June 15, sources in the temple administration said.

Earlier, the SP had informed that 10,000 police personnel of various ranks will be deployed both for celebration of the grand festival and the Rath Yatra. At least 14 specialised contingents of senior police officials would be formed to take care of different security provisions that include security cover for VVIPs, crowd monitoring, traffic control, bomb detection and disposal and intelligence gathering.

As many as 300 lifeguards would be deployed along Puri beach from Chakratirtha Road to Swargadwara to prevent incidents of drowning in the sea. Besides, 14 watch towers will be erected for surveillance.

A three-tier security ring would be put in place at the Jagannath temple, Gundicha temple and three chariots of the deities. Four watch towers around the temple would be manned by security personnel round-the-clock.