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Special arrangements for Durga puja in Cuttack

CUTTACK: Cuttack police have made massive arrangements for the five–day Dusshera which began from Thursday with Mahasashthi puja of Goddess Durga. As usual, three unique squads like—anti-liquor, anti-terrorist and quick reaction team (QRT), have formed to ensure peaceful completion of the annual extravaganza.

The squads would provide additional teeth to the regular security arrangements, police said.

City DCP A. N. Sinha informed that about 45 platoons of armed force are deployed in with more than 1,000 constables and home guards to man each lane and by-lane of the city.

Besides, 400 officers in the rank of sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, 60 inspectors, 61 havildars, eight commandants, 32 DSPs would be under the supervision of a senior officer in the rank of an additional commissioner.

“According to the importance of the puja pandals and sensitiveness of the area, the mandaps have been divided into three categories and accordingly security has been provided.

Additional forces are deployed at mandaps sporting silver tableaus and golden crowns of the deities”, Mr. Sinha said.

The State DGP would personally supervise the law and order situation through the IG operation and the Commissioner of Police for the celebrations in Cuttack city. While the city boasts of as many as 154 puja mandaps this year, Cuttack district including areas of Banki, Badamba, Athgarh, Choudwar and Salipur have about 600 puja mandaps where different deities including Goddess Durga, Hara-Parvati would be worshipped during these five days.

Plain clothed policemen, police video teams, excise sleuths, anti-liquor, anti-goonda squads along with quick action forces would remain in alert in every locality to act in case of any emergency, the DCP said.

Since liquor shops would be closed for last three days till immersion festival on September 29, at least 10 anti liquor squads headed by an inspector each would patrol inside the city to pick up the drunken revellers.

The quick reaction force will be equipped with vajra vehicle, air gun, rubber bullets and tear gas shells.

Personnel in this team will arrive at the disturbing spot immediately with SLR and AK-47s in the event of any eventuality, Sinha said.

Keeping the age-old tradition of the city alive, some senior citizens of each locality have been given police power to assist the police in maintaining law and order during the puja days.

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