Cuttack: Revellers can hope to enjoy the Baliyatra this year with peace of mind as the Commissionerate Police has come up with a foolproof plan to ensure safety and security of the hoppers at the fairground.
As many as 32 platoons of police would be deployed at the fairground. And aid posts would be put in place at either gates of the fairground to assist the visitors. “Taking the visitors’ safety and security to a new height, we’ve also roped in two social outfits which will facilitate 250 volunteers to manage the crowd,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Akhilesvar Singh told the media Tuesday.
At least 50 CCTV cameras would be installed at key locations of the fairground to keep a tight vigil. “Two control rooms with three dedicated police officials will check the CCTV footages on a real-time basis so as to ensure a round-the-clock surveillance on the fairground,” Singh said.
According to Singh, the Commissionerate Police would focus on crowd management, especially at the entry and exit gates of the fairground. “In a bid to ease the congestion and avoid any stampede like situation, three passages have been made in place of the one which connected the upper and lower grounds last year,” the DCP said.
Besides, two special squads of the police, including women officials in plainclothes would ensure vigilance on the fairground and keep tabs on pickpockets, chain-snatchers and eve-teasers.
Similarly, two watchtowers on the upper ground, three on the lower ground and the one which has been set up on the riverbank would ensure the 24X7 monitoring of the fairground. “Every year, the areas near riverbank turn breeding ground for anti-socials after sundown. We’ve asked the CMC to ensure adequate lighting in these areas,” the DCP said, adding that they would make people aware to keep their belongings safely.
In case any miscreant is caught creating nuisance during the annual trade fair, s/he would be detained at the nearby Cantonment Police Station and action would follow as per the law.
It is evident from the past few incidents that nomads from across the country, who throng the fairground during the fair, were involved in pick pocketing and chain-snatching cases. “We had a meeting with the GRP and RPF here to keep us informed about the nomads entering the Silver City. We’ll keep them away from the fairground,” Singh told the media.
If revellers can comfortably enjoy this year’s Baliyatra amid the claimed safety and security of the Commissionerate Police, then the twin-city police could really be said to be people-oriented, said Munmun Ghosh of West Bengal, who has arrived in the Silver City to witness the annual trade fair.
