Bhubaneswar, November 15: Odisha Police have intensified security and crowd management measures in Puri ahead of the upcoming Panchuka and Kartika Purnima festivals, with senior police officials reviewing preparedness at Shree Jagannath Temple and Sakhigopal Temple to ensure the smooth movement and safety of devotees.

Dr Satyajit Naik, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Range, Cuttack, along with Puri Superintendent of Police Prateek Singh, officers of the Srimandir Special Security Battalion (SSMSB) and other senior officials, reviewed the security arrangements at Shree Jagannath Temple.

The review was conducted under the direction and guidance of the Director General of Police (DGP), Odisha, as part of efforts to ensure peaceful and orderly observance of the upcoming religious festivals.

During the inspection, Naik took stock of the overall security preparedness, with particular emphasis on crowd regulation, police deployment, traffic management, queue arrangements and the smooth movement of devotees inside and around the temple premises.

He stressed the importance of meticulous planning, effective coordination among various departments and continuous monitoring to ensure a safe, smooth and hassle-free darshan for devotees.

​​​​​​​The IGP also reviewed security and crowd management arrangements at Sakhigopal Temple ahead of Anla Nabami and the sacred Radha Pada Darshan, which attract thousands of devotees from different parts of Odisha and neighbouring states.

The review covered police deployment, traffic regulation, parking facilities, access control and coordination with temple authorities and other concerned departments to ensure orderly movement of devotees.

Naik issued necessary instructions to the officers concerned to maintain heightened vigilance, strengthen ground-level supervision and remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality. He also emphasised that all arrangements must be implemented in a coordinated and disciplined manner, keeping the safety, convenience and comfort of devotees as the highest priority.

Odisha Police, Central Range, reiterated its commitment to ensuring peaceful and well-organised religious celebrations through proactive policing, robust security measures, efficient traffic regulation and effective crowd management.