NSG security drills in Bhubaneswar

BHUBANESWAR: In the wake of recent visit of two Indian Mujahideen operatives to the state capital and Puri, the National Security Guard (NSG) has decided to conduct security drills at these places on Wednesday.

While police are tight-lipped about the 'mock' operation, sources said some NSG officers reached here on Tuesday. "It is their (NSG) secret drill. We cannot disclose anything," special DGP (headquarters) Sanjeev Marik told TOI.

This is for the second time the elite central armed police force chose Bhubaneswar for the exercise. On January 2, NSG officers carried out drills at a star hotel and a private university here.

Though police refused to divulge the locations identified by the NSG, sources said the agency would conduct mock drills at a hotel near Bhubaneswar railway station and another hotel in Puri.

Police said the objective of the mock drill was to sensitize police and hoteliers about precautions to avoid any untoward incident.

"The NSG officers will assess the threat perception and advice hotels on upgrading their security system," a police officer said.

The NSG authorities are likely to meet DGP and other senior government officers on Thursday and discuss security measures at Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Odisha police recently said they would take the advice of central armed police forces to upgrade security at the 12th century shrine, which is one of the high-risk category temples in the country. With mega Nabakalebar scheduled for 2015, they want to plug the loopholes in their security mechanism.

"We do not want to leave anything to chance. Since IM operatives claimed to have planned attacks during this year's Rath Yatra, we will seek recommendations from NSG authorities to improve security arrangements ahead of the festival," the police officer added.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/NSG-security-drills-in-Bhubaneswar-today/articleshow/35670250.cms