Heavy contingents of police, including paramilitary forces, were deployed in the city on Monday for fool proof security arrangement for Dussehra.

A flag march by the police was conducted in the major thoroughfares of city “as part of a routine exercise to instill confidence among the general mass”.

A security measures are being maintained to keep under strict vigil all the sensitive and religious places during the six-day-long festival in the city. Those found indulging in undesirable activities will be dealt strictly, said a police officer. A three-tier security arrangement inclusive of plainclothes police personnel, police video teams, anti-liquor squads has been made by dividing the city into four zones. Police aid posts have been set up at over a score of places.

Police force from various battalions of the Odisha State Armed Police has been deployed as part of the arrangement in addition to a sizable number from the local police stations. Deputy commissioner of police Akhileswar Singh said security arrangements had been made and 60 platoons of police and two companies of paramilitary force would be deployed during Dussehra and the immersion ceremony.

“There is special watch on railway station, bus depot, markets and the 160-odd puja mandaps, where idols have come up,” Singh said.

Some 425 officers, including ACPs, additional SPs, DSPs and assistant commandants, inspectors, SIs and ASIs are on the duty. Three special mobile teams have also been formed to keep a watch on illegal sale of liquor and other criminal elements during the festival in the city.

A special surveillance is also being kept on hotels, restaurants and near malls as part of the police strategy to prevent any untoward incident near public places.

The CCTV cameras have been installed at prominent public places, while officers and other personnel have been warned not to use mobile phones unnecessarily while on duty. “Special emphasis has been given on the protection of idols decorated with chandi medhas (silver filigree backdrops) that have come up at 24 Puja mandaps in the city,” the DCP said.

Armed personnel have been deployed at these mandaps for the protection of the gold and silver ornaments of the goddess and action against mischief-mongers.