Elaborate security arrangement in Odisha capital for swearing in ceremony of new CM

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha police has made elaborate security arrangements for the much-awaited oath-taking ceremony of the first Chief Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to be held at the Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar on June 12.

A special security meeting in this regard was held by the Bhubaneswar Commissionerate of Police on Tuesday. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah along with other dignitaries will be present during the oath-taking ceremony, massive security cover will be in place for the grand event.

"Apart from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many cabinet rank Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of some other States and many other dignitaries are likely to be present during the ceremony. We are expecting more than 30,000 people at Janata Maidan. Taking all these things into account, we have made elaborate security arrangements for the function. Security arrangements have been tightened at the airport. Proper route lining and traffic arrangements have also been made from the airport to the Governor House and Janata Maidan," said Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda.

"A total of 67 platoons of police force will be deployed in the security arrangement. IG Praveen Kumar has been given the responsibility for the security arrangement at the venue. DIG Sarthak Sarangi will be in charge of the security arrangements at the airport. DIG Umashankar Dash has been given the charge for the security arrangement for the route from the Airport till Janata Maidan and oversee parking facilities for the public near the venue," said Panda.

The police Commissioner further informed that a total of 13 DCP rank officers, 18 Additional DCPs, 58 ACP rank officers, 94 inspectors and 312 SIs have been deployed for the security arrangements.

"As it is a high-security programme, the dog squad and anti-sabotage teams have been checking the venue and roads regularly. As part of the SOP, we are checking various hotels and doing night checking as well. For the Prime Minister's visit, we are making security arrangements as per the 'Blue Book'," he added.