Ahead of the 77th Republic Day, Odisha Police organised a national flag hoisting programme at Udabali Island near Dhamra Port in Bhadrak district.
The event took place on an uninhabited coastal island, and it symbolised the state police’s commitment to safeguarding India’s land, sea, and sovereignty.
DGP Yogesh Bahadur Khurania attended as the chief guest and hoisted the tricolour. He expressed gratitude to security forces for their courage, sacrifice, and dedication in protecting the nation’s coastline.
During his address, the DGP announced that Odisha Police has launched a long-term plan to strengthen and modernise coastal security. Furthermore, the state government sanctioned Rs 149 crore in the current budget for this initiative. The funds will support mechanised boats, trawlers, drones for each marine police station, deployment of naval experts and technical advisors, appointment of dedicated marine police officers at fish landing centres, and expansion of community policing programmes.
In addition, the plan includes installing CCTV cameras at fishing hubs, setting up control centres at marine police stations, and linking them to a modern command and control centre in Bhubaneswar. The DGP thanked the state government for backing these measures.
He also emphasised that flag hoisting on uninhabited coastal islands reflects Odisha Police’s unwavering resolve to protect national sovereignty. The programme involved the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Customs, Fisheries Department, Intelligence, Forest Department, local residents, and fishermen.
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directive during the All-India DGP Conference in Odisha in November 2024, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi instructed the DGP to identify uninhabited islands for flag hoisting. Consequently, similar programmes will be held over the next three days at Kanika Sands, Long Wheeler (Babubali), Coconut Wheeler, Small Wheeler, Nyatapau, Budhiabali, Hukitola, Kaduapal, Dhanichhada, Parikud, Nalabana, and Kalijai islands.
Senior officers, including ADGP (Railways & Coastal Security) Arun Bothra, DIG (Eastern Range) Pinak Mishra, Bhadrak SP Manoj Raut, and AIG (Marine) Satyajit Mishra, joined the event.
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