An Indian Army helicopter lands at Talabania helipad to take stock of the security arrangement ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.
Puri: As many as 40 platoons of police personnel are expected to be deployed in the temple city with a five-layer security for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Jagannath temple Sunday.
According to state director general of police KB Singh, state’s senior officials Friday conducted security drills for the visit of the Prime Minister. Scores of intelligence persons, bomb detection and disposal units and dog units were being placed at strategic places along the route from Puri helipad to Sri Jagannath temple.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to enter the temple gate by 10.40am and depart Puri at 11.40am. He would fly to Paradip from the helipad by 1155am. In view of the Prime Minister’s schedule, the temple administration had rescheduled the nitee and rituals of the deities.
Meanwhile, the devotees have been barred from entering the sanctum sanctorum of the temple as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been conducting repairs to the Jagamohan. The repair work would be suspended for the Prime Minister’s visit to facilitate entry of Modi into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.
Modi would offer prayers to the deities in the garbhagruha and also to Mahalaxmi and Vimala on the temple complex. An hour prior to the Prime Minister’s visit the temple would be cleared of all devotees and none would be allowed to enter the temple during his stay.
Ahead of Modi’s visit to the Capital city, the commissionerate police officials Friday conducted security drills and rehearsals. According to twin city police commissioner Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, at least 60 platoons of police force will be deployed in the city during Modi’s visit here. PNN
