Odisha: Special session of state assembly to commence from June 18 amidst tightended security

A special session of the Odisha Assembly has been convened for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected MLAs and the election of the speaker from June 18 onwards. Keeping in mind the special three-day session, the senior officials of Odisha Police, including the DGP Arun Sarangi, Twin City Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda and others on Monday reviewed the security arrangements.

All the newly elected MLAs will take oath from tomorrow i.e. June 18 and June 19. Later, the election for the Speaker will be held on June 20. The Pro-tem Speaker Ranendra Pratap Swain will administer oath to the newly-elected MLAs of the Assembly on June 18 and 19. On June 20 Shri Swain will conduct the election for the full time Speaker on June 20.

The Odisha Assembly in the state capital has been put under a three-tier security for this special session.
“At least 75 senior police personnel and eight platoon forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident during the oath-taking ceremony”, informed DGP Arun Sarangi after reviewing the security arrangements.

“As there is likely to be no rally, agitation or demonstration, we have only deployed a skeletal regiment for now. The security arrangement has been divided into three parts – inner cordon, outer cordon and isolation cordon. A special team has been given the security arrangements inside the Assembly,” he added
Sri Sarangi also said that Odisha Police has also deployed anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage teams. Police has also opened a control room here. Those who have the pass will only be allowed inside the Vidhan Sabha due to security reasons.

“This special session will be a short session . So , there will only be temporary traffic diversions,” informed Twin City Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda. It may be noted that eight-time BJD MLA from the Athagarh Assembly constituency, Ranendra Pratap Swain was sworn in at the Raj Bhavan on last Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, chief secretary PK Jena and other senior officials.