BHUBANESWAR, July 9, 2013: Crowd management during RathYatra remains a daunting task for police as the festival in the past witnessed numerous clashes and stampedes. Lakhs of devotees are expected to throng Purion RathYatra (July 10), BahudaYatra (July 18) and SunaBesha (July 19). If this is not enough, the proposed visit of Gujarat chief minister NarendraModi to Puri on July 16 has cops on their toes.

"Modi's presence in Puri would definitely draw a huge crowd. We will chalk out security measures for his smooth visit. We will also ensure that pilgrims do not suffer due to the VVIP's visit," said a police officer.

Crowd mismanagement had triggered stampedes in 2008 and 2010, killing six people and a pilgrim respectively and injuring scores. 'Inept' handling of crowd on the second day of Rath Yatra in 2011 had led to a pitched battle betweenpolicemen and priests in front of the chariots at Gundicha Temple. Thirty people from both sides were injured.

Trouble erupted when police prevented some priests from taking devotees onto the chariots through an exit route. A priest allegedly broke a coconut on the head of a constable, sparking the bloody brawl. While incensed priests refused to attend to the deities on the chariots for a day, government suspended four constables to pacify the former.

"We are prepared to prevent any untoward incident. Adequate forces have been deployed to regulate the crowd around the chariots and on Grand Road," SP (Puri) Anup Kumar Sahoo said. "Our personnel will also man the narrow streets, leading to the Grand Road. Encroachments along Grand Road and streets around the temple have been removed," Sahoo said. Around 7,000 police personnel are on duty, he added.

Jagannath Temple's chief administrator and RDC (central division) Arvind Padhee sought better coordination between priests and police. "Priests have assured to cooperate with police for better regulation of devotees on chariots in front of Gundicha Temple," Padhee said.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 9, 2013.