BHUBANESWAR: Police personnel, who have not been assigned Rath Yatra duty, have been asked to refrain from visiting Puri with their families. The state police headquarters has sent a circular to the heads of police establishments to strictly comply with the order.
Like last year, the government has banned the congregation of devotees during the Rath Yatra in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Though the police can get easy access to any place, there could be misuse of the ban order and they may visit Puri alone or take their families along with them. Only duty-bound police personnel should visit the pilgrim town,” a senior police officer said.
Sources said the circular from the state police headquarters was also communicated to IPS officers. Only a handful of senior IPS officers, including additional director general (law and order) R K Sharma, director (intelligence) Lalit Das, inspector general (central range) Narsingha Bhol and deputy inspector general (intelligence) Anup Kumar Sahoo have been assigned the job of supervising the Rath Yatra security arrangements.
Last year, two inspectors had faced disciplinary proceedings for visiting Puri though they were not on Rath Yatra duty. Besides, the state police was left red-faced when an officer had forcibly entered the Jagannath Temple during the lockdown in April last year even though the 12th century shrine was off limits to the devotees owing to the pandemic.
Around 65 platoons of police forces have been deployed in Puri for a smooth Rath Yatra. Director general of police Abhay visited the town on the eve of the Rath Yatra and took stock of security arrangements. “We are ready with our arrangements. The motivation level of our officers is high. We seek the cooperation of the locals like last year,” Abhay said.
