DIMAPUR, JUNE 19: For the first time two companies of state reserve police forces from Nagaland and Assam will be deployed during the Rath Yatra bandobast, following the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inter-state exchange of police forces to improve co-ordination.
Quoting senior police officials, a national media report said, these two companies which will consists of about 200 personnel will include two platoons of women police personnel also.
The 139th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be taken out on the 18 kilometer route in the city on July 7. Eid could also fall on the same day and hence extra precautions are being taken by the city police to ensure peace in the city, the report said.
"During the last DGP meet at Dhordo, Prime Minister while addressing the senior police officials from across the state had laid emphasis on improving co-ordination between police forces of different states. He had said that for effective policing forces from different states should be inter exchanged to become familiar with each other" said a senior police official who had attended the DGP meet.
Meanwhile city police Chief Shivanand Jha has directed both Joint Commissioners of the city, RR Bhagat and BD Vaghela to arrange rain coats for police officials deployed in the Rath Yatra Bandobast as it would be difficult for cops to perform their duty in rainfall.
Senior police officials said they have also asked for extra forces including the Central Para Military Forces and the Rapid Action Force Jawans for bandobast during Rath Yatra, the report added.