The Swatantra Shree Mandir Surakshya Vahini (SSMSV), a special force conceived to protect the 12th-century Shree Jagannath Temple, will be trained by the National Security Guard (NSG).

Outstanding police personnel from the armed wing of the Odisha Police, such as the Odisha State Armed Police Force, Special Security Battalion, and Civil Police, will be drafted into the SSMSV. They will be brought into this specialised wing for a three-year tenure, which will be extended for one year based on their performance.

According to the Odisha government notification: “The security personnel of the SSMSV will undergo regular drills under the NSG supervision to counter armed attacks. SSMSV will also prepare modules to tackle emergencies such as terrorist attacks, with training in bomb detection and disposal. The force will be equipped with modern and advanced technical equipment for enhanced security measures.”

The dedicated force will work under the supervision of the superintendent of police (SP) Puri and provide security to the chariots during the Rath and Bahuda Yatra celebration.

Puri SP Vinit Agrawal told The Telegraph: “We will soon come out with modalities to this effect and how the training programme will be organised. The force will be able to neutralise any threat to the Shree Jagannath Temple and other important places. We will liaise with the NSG in conducting regular drills and rehearsal to counter any armed attack or sabotage.,”

“It will deal with all kinds of crisis, contingencies and unanticipated situations arising out of terrorism, extremism, hostage-taking and the similar acts of sabotage, subversion targeting Jagannath Temple,” said the official.

The special dedicated force will develop its bomb detection and disposal capabilities and its own anti-sabotage check. Maintaining a close liaison with the special intelligence wing, state special branch, and district intelligence Bureau, the force will devise, prepare, and execute situation-specific operational plans based on intelligence inputs.

Assembly adjourned

The Odisha Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, 20 days ahead of its scheduled closure. The House was scheduled to continue till December 31.

Sources said the ongoing agitation by different organisations, particularly by members of Mission Shakti, forced the government to take such a decision.