Over 1k police mitras for WC security

Bhubaneswar: The commissionerate police and Bhubaneswar Development Authority on Saturday trained around 150 youth volunteers to work as police mitras to supplement police efforts to maintain law and order during the ongoing men’s hockey World Cup, which the city is hosting along with Rourkela. Altogether 1,000 police mitras have been selected by the police in city. Out of them, 150 had expressed their willingness to be deployed at vantage points around Exhibition Ground, the DotFest venue.
“We felt it was necessary to deploy police mitras, which is a volunteering job, because the city is hosting several entertainment programmes at multiple locations on the sidelines of the world cup. In such a situation it becomes very important to regulate traffic, manage crowd and guide people to the event venues,” said DCP Prateek Singh.
“Police mitras are trained to keep a lookout for suspicious elements and inform police besides managing parking and assisting traffic personnel in regulating the traffic as there will be huge rush in the evening. They will guide people who come to the venue, show the direction of the venue and parking areas, entry and exit, among others,” added Singh.
On Saturday, additional police commissioner Umashankar Dash addressed the police mitras. “The aim is to ensure secure and smooth traffic and parking management. It is an opportunity for the volunteers to prove their mettle and behave like mitras of people,” said Dash.
They will be deployed at junctions like Rajmahal Square, Master Canteen, Ram Mandir Temple, Khao Gali, Capital High School, nd Keshari Talkies and different venues and roads leading to the venue.
Vice-chairman of BDA Balwant Singh said police mitras are from communities and if they take the responsibility of ensuring a smooth city festival, then their slection will be justified.
At least 10,000 people are expected to congregate from January 15 to 24 every evening at the different venues. Police have trained the vounteers on the routes and how to behave with people. DotFest comprises six events — international food festival, Bhubaneswar live, Bhufesto, Ekamra walks, night flea market and Sebe-O-Eebe photo exhibition.