Cops step up patrolling on beaches in Puri district
2
Bhubaneswar: In the wake of the gang rape of a 20-year-old woman at Gopalpur beach in Ganjam on Sunday, Puri police have stepped up patrolling across beaches in the district. "The beach stretches in Puri town, Chandrabhaga-Konark and Astaranga have been put under enhanced surveillance," said SP (Puri) Vinit Agrawal.
The heightened security measures have coincided with the upcoming Rath Yatra, which is expected to attract lakhs of visitors to Puri.
"We have increased our presence by deploying additional patrol personnel on beaches throughout the district. Working with Puri Municipality, we have enhanced illumination," Agrawal told TOI.
He said that police stations have been instructed to increase foot patrolling in secluded areas during evening hours.
Police have taken the assistance of lifeguards and local communities to prevent beach-related crimes.
"Beach crime is not alarming. Stray incidents of theft and snatching are reported. We arrested some thieves recently," said an officer of Sea Beach police station.
"Areas near Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University, Sterling and Puri-Konark marine drive remain isolated, creating safety issues that require night-time foot patrolling.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Urologists: What 90% Of Men With ED Don't Know (Start Doing This)
Health Paradise
Learn More
Undo
Previous incidents include tourist-targeted harassment, snatching and theft," said Srimanta Kumar Dash, president of India-Japan Friendship Centre, an organisation promoting Puri tourism.
Debasis Kumar, vice-president of Hotel Association of Puri, advised tourists against visiting isolated beaches after sunset.
"Puri beach is completely safe. It is always better to stroll and sit on beaches with people around," Kumar said, adding, "The Blue Flag beach is the most sought after due to various safety features."
Visitors have requested CCTV installation along the beach. "We do not find any surveillance cameras on the beach. Cameras these days are considered as security multiplier," said Krishna Banerjee, a tourist from Howrah.
Official sources said that in 2012, the district administration installed beach CCTV cameras. The devices were later removed following opposition from certain local groups concerned about privacy of bathers.
Previous attacks on foreign visitors in isolated beach areas in Puri have been reported. A Russian couple was assaulted on the beach near Chakratirtha Road on Dec 23, 2011, while a Czech tourist was attacked while walking with his wife and friend on May 17, 2010. On Jan 18, 2010, a 28-year-old Russian woman sustained injuries in a knife attack at a deserted section on Baliapanda beach.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
With SOPs still not in place, dhirio continue in Salcete
Colva: The controversial and illegal dhirio, or bullfights, appear to be gaining ground once again in South Goa, despite a renewed crackdown ordered by South Goa collector Egna Cleetus. The collector had recently announced the formation of a special committee aimed at eradicating the practice, but the events continue to be organised in defiance of the law. Over the past week alone, bullfighting enthusiasts have staged events at multiple locations. On Aug 8, a bullfight was reported at Varca, followed by another the very next day on Fatrade beach. The high court banned dhirio in 1997, citing violations of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. To curb the rising number of such illegal events, the collector on July 10 announced a multi-stakeholder committee. The panel was to include mamlatdars, police officers from various stations at Salcete and Mormugao, veterinary officers, and representatives from animal welfare organisations. The objective was to coordinate efforts, implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), and respond quickly to reports of dhirio. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo However, officials on the ground said that the system is yet to function as intended. 'The SOPs have not yet been circulated to us,' said Colva police inspector Vikram Naik. 'Our role is to maintain law and order and register cases. For actually stopping dhirio, veterinary officers and trained bull handlers have to be present.' The dangers of these fights extend beyond the animals. In Jan 2024, a 38-year-old bullfighting enthusiast was gored to death during a bullfight at Benaulim. Just a few months later, in April, one of the fighting bulls died instantly when its opponent's horn pierced its heart during a violent clash. Despite legal prohibitions, the lure of dhirio — also tied to illegal betting — continues to draw participants and spectators. Animal welfare groups have reiterated their demand for faster implementation of the collector's directives, Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Woman touches pole on flooded road in Ghaziabad, electrocuted
Gurgaon: A 31-year-old woman was electrocuted after she touched an electric pole in Sector 21A, Faridabad, on Saturday morning, due to heavy rain. The woman, Deepa, who worked as a domestic staffer, was a native of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand, and was living in a rented house in Sector 21A with her husband, Suresh, and their two children. The incident took place around 10am near Angel Public School when Deepa was passing along an inundated road. She came into contact with a live electric pole and collapsed on the spot. Locals alerted the police, who rushed her to the hospital, where she was declared brought dead. The body was sent to BK Hospital for post-mortem. "Preliminary probe suggests that the pole had leakage current. The exact reason will be confirmed after an inspection by the electricity department," said a police official. "Further legal action will be taken once we have the post-mortem report and technical findings," he said. You Can Also Check: Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon Police said they are awaiting the family's statement before proceeding further. No FIR was lodged till late Saturday evening. Earlier this month, a 32-year-old woman was electrocuted while operating a fodder cutting machine at her home in Sohna's Sehjawas on Thursday when it rained. Sangeeta was working in the fields outside her home around 5pm due to a power outage. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Accounting Help Made Simple legal directorate Learn More Undo Once electricity was restored, she turned on the machine placed in the front yard inside the house and was electrocuted because of excessive water accumulation. Last month, a 25-year-old graphic designer died of electrocution in the city. Akshat Jain, who belongs to Delhi but was living in a rented house in Vatika City, was on his way back home on his motorcycle when he accidentally touched a live wire that was submerged in rainwater on a main road in Ghasola village. Police said eyewitnesses told them Jain was trying to balance his bike in knee-deep waters, when he touched the wire. The power box of a streetlight pole was open at the time. Police said Jain's family filed a complaint at Sector 50 police station and an FIR was registered against the electricity department for death by negligence (Section 106 of BNS). Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Junior doctors pay tribute, vow to continue their fight
1 2 Kolkata: On Saturday, which marked one year since the rape-murder horror of an on-duty junior doctor, RG Kar Medical College campus resembled a fortress, embedded in layers of security personnel. A large contingent from Kolkata Police and CISF stood guard at the hospital's gate, keeping a vigil on all passing through the gate. Unlike the unrest on Park Street during the Nabanna Abhijan, colleagues from the campus, as well as from other medical colleges and health workers, quietly paid tribute to 'Abhaya'. After a night-long protest gathering at Shyambazar, following a torch rally on Friday, the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF) gathered at ground zero in the RG Kar campus on Saturday. The candlelight gathering in front of the 'Cry of the Hour' began by paying floral homage to the 31-year-old rape-murder victim. The representative sculpture of Abhaya was installed in the hospital premises by WBJDF in October last year, barely 100m away from the Emergency building where the second-year chest medicine PGT was found raped and murdered. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "There are so many unanswered questions around this crime. While the motive behind the incident is not known yet, the CBI has failed to submit a supplementary charge sheet. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is this legal? Access all TV channels without a subscription! Techno Mag Learn More Undo We will keep mounting pressure till Abhaya gets justice," said Soumyadip Roy of WBJDF. Post the rape-murder, reports of evidence tampering, corruption, and other irregularities emerged from the campus, leading to the arrest of Sandip Ghosh, former principal, who currently is in judicial custody. While the investigating agencies so far have found only Sanjoy Roy, a former Kolkata Police civic volunteer, WBJDF and most in the medical community believe the involvement of more than one in the crime. Roy was convicted in January this year. The gathering at RG Kar on Saturday said that they will not relent till they are convinced that justice has been served. "It is unfortunate that even after a year of such a crime there is no logical closure of the case," said a senior doctor at the hospital. Members of the Service Doctors' Forum, Medical Service Centre, and Nurses Unit also joined the gathering after marching from Shyambazar. Since morning, the campus was abuzz with junior doctors tying rakhi to all on the campus, including the patients. Similar kinds of raksha bandhan and candlelight vigils for Abhaya were held across all medical colleges in the state. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
