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Ruling out possibility of terrorist activities during the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Odisha’s Director General of Police (DGP) Prakash Mishra on Monday said the state has sought more Rapid Action Force (RAF) for ensuring a peaceful festival this time on June 29.
“There is no specific terrorist threat during the ensuing Snan Purnima (bathing festival) and Rath Yatra at Puri,” Mishra said on sidelines of the passing out parade of policemen here.
While Snan Purnima will be held on June 13, Rath Yatra is scheduled to be celebrated on June 29. On Snan Purnima, the trinity - Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannth - are brought out of the main temple and seated on a pandal where priests pour 108 pots of cold water on them. The deities also adorn ‘Gajanan Vesh’ (elephant attire) after the bathing rituals.
Mishra also rejected media reports which claimed there was terrorist threat during the festival after the mysterious visit of two operative of Indian Mujahidin to the state capital and Puri last year.
A foolproof security system would be in place to ensure safety and peace during the Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra this year, Mishra said adding more number of RPF had been sought keeping in mind their proposed deployment in large numbers during the Nabakalebara festival next year.
Apart from this, the temple administration has also decided to fit a good number of CCTVs inside and outside the 12th century shrine in order to keep a watch on the movement of any suspected elements, he said.
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