Bhubaneswar, Feb 28: With several major festivals approaching, the Odisha police have announced round-the-clock surveillance of social media platforms to maintain peace and law and order across the state. The decision, communicated by the Director General of Police (DGP), comes after a high-level review meeting at the State Police Headquarters.

The DGP emphasized that the safety and security of citizens remain the government’s top priority, and directed all district Superintendents of Police (SPs) to remain on high alert during the festive period. Authorities have been instructed to ensure that celebrations take place in a disciplined and peaceful atmosphere.

A central aspect of the security strategy is to prevent the spread of rumours, misleading information, and provocative content on social media that could disrupt communal harmony. The Cyber Cell has been tasked with 24-hour monitoring and patrolling of social media platforms to quickly identify and take action against inflammatory or objectionable posts.

In addition to online vigilance, SPs have been directed to strengthen ground-level security measures. This includes installing CCTV cameras at sensitive locations, enhanced intelligence gathering, and forming local peace committees to facilitate coordination between different communities.

Police officials have also been instructed to take preventive action against habitual offenders to avert potential incidents during the upcoming festivals, such as Dola Yatra, Holi, Eid-ul-Fitr, Sri Ram Navami, and Hanuman Jayanti, which traditionally see large public gatherings.

Authorities have urged citizens to celebrate responsibly and refrain from sharing unverified information on social media. The police’s proactive approach aims to ensure that all festivals are celebrated peacefully, with a strong focus on maintaining social harmony and public safety.