Puri, July 13: With lakhs of devotees expected to converge in Puri for the holy Rath Yatra, Odisha Crime Branch and Cyber Police have launched a special awareness campaign titled ‘Cyber Saathi’ to protect pilgrims and tourists from online frauds.

The initiative was flagged off Monday in front of Puri Town Police Station by Crime Branch IG Sarthak Sarangi and Puri SP Prateek Singh.

Notably, the campaign aims to alert visitors about fake hotel booking websites, fraudulent social media pages, and other cyber scams that often target unsuspecting devotees during the festival.

Also read: NSG Unit, 15 CAPF Companies & 13,000 Cops: All About Puri's Massive Rath Yatra Security Cover

Authorities have already identified and blocked 212 fake hotel booking websites and 26 fake webpages designed to cheat pilgrims. In June alone, 50 such websites and 26 webpages were taken down. Devotees have been urged to book hotels only through authorized websites and avoid suspicious links or offers.

“Cyber criminals are exploiting the rush of Rath Yatra by creating fake websites and apps to trap devotees booking hotels. If anyone falls victim, they should immediately call 1930,” said IG Sarangi.

He added that the Puri Hotel and Restaurant Association has also been sensitized, and arrangements will be made to provide immediate accommodation to victims of fraud.

The campaign will cover various parts of Puri town, spreading awareness among devotees, tourists, hotel owners, and locals.

Alongside cyber safety, police have deployed anti-snatching teams and introduced face recognition systems to curb chain-snatching incidents during the crowded festival.

Cyber Police also reported shutting down four fake websites that were soliciting donations in the name of rituals and offerings, including Tulasi Chhada and Sudarsan Home. These fraudulent sites were found to be exploiting religious sentiments by advertising on Facebook and other platforms.

Mock Drill Conducted

Puri Police organized a mock drill at the Police Line ground ahead of the Rath Yatra to rehearse the pulling of the chariots. Three jeeps were symbolically decorated to represent the chariots Taladhwaja, Darpadalana, and Nandighosha.

The drill simulated the entire process — from receiving the signal from the chariots to the coordination and pulling — to ensure smooth execution during the actual festival.

For the mock drill, responsibilities were assigned to senior officials: the District Collector oversaw Nandighosha, the Superintendent of Police managed Taladhwaja, and the Additional District Collector supervised Darpadalana.

All officers and security personnel participated in the exercise, which was aimed at ensuring preparedness and coordination for the grand Rath Yatra event.