Puri cops conduct anti-terror drills ahead of Rath Yatra
Given the recent Indo-Pak tensions and the govt's invitation to VVIPs, including the President, Prime Minister, Union ministers and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states to Rath Yatra, this year's festival will witness heightened security measures.
"With lakhs of devotees expected to attend this year's Rath Yatra, ensuring foolproof security is our top priority. The simulation exercises help us identify gaps in our response mechanism and improve coordination among different security agencies," Vinit Agrawal, SP of Puri, said.
The counter-terrorism mock drills were conducted at the Puri railway station and near the Jagannath Temple to evaluate how effectively rescue agencies can respond during emergencies.
Police officers said the aim is to achieve smooth coordination between various response agencies to eliminate any possibility of uncertainty and chaos during actual emergencies.
"Police, fire service, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force, healthcare professionals, and anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of the special tactical group took part in the mock drills," Agrawal said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid
WellnessGuide
Learn more
Undo
The simulation exercises were conducted three days after Odisha police deployed a dedicated anti-terrorist squad near the shrine for smooth conduct of Rath Yatra. The ATS consists of urban warfare-trained commandos from Odisha police's special tactical group.
Police recently positioned Rakshak, an armoured vehicle with bullet-proof capabilities, outside the Jagannath Temple. The vehicle is designed to resist intense artillery fire and explosive devices.
Follow more information on
Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here
. Get
real-time live updates
on rescue operations and check
full list of passengers onboard AI 171
.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Op U-Turn: Over 600 drunk drivers caught in 18 days
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur traffic police booked a staggering 1,324 motorists for drunk driving from January 1 to July 28 this year. What is more startling is that 636 of these violators — nearly 48% — were recorded during just an 18-day special drive 'Operation U-Turn' held between July 10 and 28. In addition to cracking down on violators, Operation U-Turn appears to have had a positive impact on overall road safety. In July 2024, the city recorded 39 road accidents. However, as of July 28, the number reduced to just around 15 — a drop of nearly 62%. DCP (Traffic) Lohit Matani confirmed the trend, saying, "Accidents too have reduced significantly this month due to our intensified focus on enforcement." The crackdown, carried out across all 10 traffic zones in the city, revealed some troubling trends. Indora zone topped the list with 94 drunk driving cases in just 18 days, followed by Kamptee (86) and Sonegaon (78), MIDC area (77), Sadar (65), Cotton Market (60), Lakadganj (59), and Ajni (56). Sakkardara and Sitabuldi zones, which are otherwise known for heavy traffic movement, reported lower figures — 26 and 35 cases respectively — suggesting either improved compliance or effective deterrence. Sitabuldi, in particular (where the office of DCP (traffic) is located), is known for stricter enforcement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo "Traffic cops in the Sitabuldi zone are more vigilant, and this has had a clear impact. Tipsy motorists tend to avoid taking that stretch," said a senior official. "The traffic cops also formed 10 special mobile patrol units which focus on drunk drivers trying to dodge checkpoints by taking sudden U-turns and slipping into side lanes," said ACP Madhuri Baviskar. Besides this, surprise nakabandi near pubs, clubs, and bars from 11pm to 2am, she added. Officials stated that Operation U-Turn was launched to send a strong message ahead of the festive season, when cases of drunk driving tend to spike. Breath analyser checks were intensified near pubs, bars, highways, and arterial roads during late evening and night hours. With more such drives planned in the coming months, police have urged citizens to stay responsible. "One careless mistake can be fatal — not just for the driver, but for others on the road," said a senior traffic cop.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
2 Hoshiarpur villages ‘ban' AAP leaders' entry over land pooling policy
Jalandhar: Two villages in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district on Tuesday put up six hoardings announcing a 'ban' on the entry of AAP functionaries over the land pooling policy. "Till the time the land pooling policy is withdrawn, no AAP leader would be allowed to enter the villages," read the hoardings placed on the main roads by Purheeran and Shergarh farmers, whose land on the outskirts of Hoshiarpur town is coming under the scheme. Bearing pictures of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, the hoardings give a call to chase them out to save the land. Farmers of both villages formed the Lok Ujara Roku Sangharash Committee (Committee to Stop Uprooting of People) in the second week of June, soon after the state govt issued advertisements notifying the areas being brought under the scheme. They sent memorandums to the Punjab chief minister and the governor, arguing that their land was fertile and produced three crops a year. They also pointed out that the govt had earlier acquired 410 acres of their land for the construction of the bypass, leaving them dependent on the remaining land. BKU (Doaba) president Manjit Singh Rai, whose land in Purheeran is coming under the scheme, said that both villages would lose around 550 acres to the land pooling. Box CM Mann's old video goes viral An old video of Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, recorded during the farm movement, is now circulating widely, used by critics to mock his current stance on the land pooling policy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Egypt: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo In the clip, Mann advised farmers to use gram sabha (village council) resolutions to oppose the Narendra Modi govt's three farm laws, while asserting their unchallengeable legal weight, even in the Supreme Court. The video has become a viral sensation on Punjabi social media, reposted by pro-farm accounts, opposition parties, and scores of netizens urging farmers to follow Mann's past advice against the new land policy. "We should come to the ground level," Mann could be heard saying in the video. "I appeal to people across Punjab that they should rise above party lines, call gram sabha meetings, and pass resolutions against the three farm laws and send these to us, and we would send them to the Prime Minister and others," Mann told the Punjab farmers. MSID:: 122977402 413 |
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Pahalgam terror victim's wife welcomes govt action
1 2 Balasore: Priyadarshini Acharya, wife of Prashant Kumar Satpathy from Balasore district's Ishani village, who was killed in the recent attack in Pahalgam welcomed the success of Operation Mahadev, which neutralised all three terrorists involved. Union home minister Amit Shah confirmed the development in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, calling it a major milestone in India's fight against terrorism. Shah said during Operation Mahadev, the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K police neutralised three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack. "I feel deeply relieved and proud today. My husband gave his life for the country, and now justice has been served. The Indian Army and our government kept their promise," said Priyadarshini. Priyadarshini recalled the trauma of the past three months and how her family had been haunted by the loss. "I used to wonder if those responsible would ever be caught. Now that they've been eliminated, I believe this is a message to every terrorist: India will not forgive or forget," she said. She also emphasized the importance of national security and praised the coordination between the govt and the armed forces. "Operation Sindoor brought us hope, and now Operation Mahadev has brought us closure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Emergency Generators in Adis Abeba: (Prices May Surprise You) Emergency Generator | Search Ads Search Now Undo I believe other families affected by terrorism will also feel that justice has been served," she added. Responding to questions about whether she had recognized the terrorists, Priyadarshini noted that some of the suspects had been seen lurking in the area before the attack but were mistaken for security personnel. "We had no idea who they really were. The mastermind had blended in, but now he has met his fate," she said. Looking ahead, she urged the government to continue taking strong steps against terrorism, particularly in vulnerable tourist regions like Pahalgam. "India's cultural and tourist destinations must remain safe. I believe the current government has shown it will act decisively when needed," she said.
