Security blanket for Independence Day

BHUBANESWAR: With a few hours to go before the Independence Day, security has been beefed up across the City. A whopping 33 platoons of police force have been deployed here for the State-level I-Day function.The Mahatma Gandhi Marg, which is the venue for the I-Day parade, was sanitised and sealed to ensure smooth conduct of the last minute preparations. Elaborate arrangements have been made to see that the celebration passes off smoothly.Apart from huge deployment of police, quick reaction teams, sharpshooters, rooftop security and CCTVs have been put in place. As is the practice, use of gas balloons has been barred at the venue.A large team of plainclothes policemen will keep a watch on the proceedings since shadow of Maoists is not far way with Rourkela Police arresting three Maoists who were reportedly on their way to Bhubaneswar earlier this week.The Commissionerate Police kept surveillance at railway and bus stations while hotels and lodges came under scanner too.The hotels have been asked to report movement of any suspicious person.