3,000 policemen to be deployed for PM’s visit

Bhubaneswar: Around 3,000 policemen, including 500 officers, will be deployed in the city ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit on September 17, a senior officer said on Sunday.

Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda said the entire 12 km route from Bhubaneswar airport to Janata Maidan has been barricaded for security purposes.”For PM’s security, the deployment will include 11 DCP-rank officers, 22 additional DCPs, 66 ACP-rank officers, 100 inspectors and 300 officers, along with 81 platoons of forces (each comprising 30 personnel) and 500 home guards. Additionally, three special tactical units along with two companies of CRPF and the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODARF) will be stationed,” he told a press conference.

Panda said three IG-rank senior police officers have been assigned to supervise the security arrangements - two officers will monitor the route and one will oversee the venue. The route has been declared a no-fly zone, and vehicular movement will be restricted. The area will be sanitised by bomb disposal and dog squads, he added.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his deputy Prabhati Parida visited Janata Maidan to review preparations for the event organised by the State government.During his visit to Bhubaneswar, Modi will launch the State government’s ‘Subhadra’ scheme and launch railway projects worth Rs 2,800 crore.