Finance
The Puri Police have stationed an armoured vehicle known as ‘Raksaka’ at the Shree Jagannath Temple, significantly increasing security measures ahead of the annual Rath Yatra.
The action is intended to provide increased security as lakhs of devotees are scheduled to gather in the holy city to witness Lord Jagannath and His siblings’ chariot festival.
The deployment was announced on Monday by the Puri Police’s official account on X (previously Twitter).
According to sources, ‘Raksaka’ is a state-of-the-art bulletproof vehicle equipped with roof-mounted light machine guns (LMGs), modern surveillance tools, and multiple security features.
Designed to withstand heavy artillery fire and explosive attacks, the vehicle is capable of operating in high-risk urban environments.
Special Tactical Unit (STU) commandos, trained in urban warfare, will operate the armoured vehicle during the festival.
The vehicle can carry five to six people and has a detachable canopy for weapon deployment. A ballistic carpet protects against shrapnel and hand grenades, while reinforced glass and plated steel keep it safe from AK-47 fire. The underbody is also reinforced to protect against improvised explosive device (IED) fragmentation.
Additional features include a rear-mounted camera system that displays live images on the driver’s LCD screen, as well as multiple firing ports for quick response in emergency situations. Even with damaged tyres, the vehicle remains operable, allowing for mobility under duress.
