Police on Alert For Smooth Passage of DGP Meeting

BHUBANESWAR: even as preparations for the first ever high profile DGP conference in Odisha’s capital have been completed and the city awaits the visit of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home minister Amit Shah,  Bhubaneswar was on Friday placed under a thick blanket of security on Thursday following a threat of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to disrupt the meeting.

Besides, the PM and the HM, national security advisor Ajit Doval and a host of top officials of security agencies will attend the three-day conference. More than 70 platoons of police force and anti-terror agencies have been deployed across the capital city to ensure the smooth passage of the event.

Anti-terror agencies and intelligence wing officials have been mobilised to handle threats posed by anti-national elements, if any. The Khalistani separatist had issued a video message to disrupt the meeting. According to top police sources, a close vigil is being maintained on every aspect and adequate security arrangements have been made to meet any challenge and ensure appropriate law and order situation. The sources said security has been heightened across the city including Raj Bhavan, Secretariat, state guest house, IPS mess and travel routes designated for VVIPs and other senior officials.

Central Reserve Police Force and Odisha Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel have been pressed into service in the capital city. Multiple areas of Bhubaneswar have already been declared as no-flying and no-drone zones. All vantage points on high-rise buildings along the routes to be taken by the PM as well as the HM have also been secured.

While security drills were conducted at the Bhubaneswar airport and its adjoining areas where the PM is expected to receive felicitations from party workers and people, police also carried out carcade rehearsal on the day. Meanwhile, the state capital has been decked up for the three-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home minister Amit Shah to Odisha starting Friday. While Shah is scheduled to take part in the DGP and IG conference, Modi has a host of other engagements lined up along with the conference.

The prime minister is set to spend more than two hours at the BJP headquarters here on Friday for a meeting with MPs, MLAs and party functionaries on party matters and performance of the new government in the state. The state BJP office has been spruced up to welcome the prime minister. The courtyard leading to the conference hall where the prime minister will have interaction with the state party leaders have been converted into two chambers – one for a photo session with Modi and the other being the dining hall. The prime minister will have dinner with state party leaders after the meeting.

On arrival at the city airport at 4.15 pm on Friday, Modi will be accorded a grand welcome. The PM may address the party workers and public gathering at the airport subject to security clearance from the PMO, said sources in the BJP. Modi will stay at Raj Bhavan and attend the DGP and IG conference in Lok Seva Bhawan on November 30 and December 1. Shah is slated to land here at about 2.15 pm on Friday and will proceed to the Lok Seva Bhawan to attend the conference. He will be fully occupied in the conference till December 1, sources said. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday reviewed security arrangements and preparations at the party office.