THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 71st Independence Day will dawn on the state capital with a blanket of security. For there exists an uneasy calm in the backdrop of the violence that followed the murder of an RSS activist a couple of weeks ago.
Keen to avoid another situation warranting a repeat of prohibitory orders, the city police is leaving no stone unturned to ensure law and order.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will take the Independence Day salute at the customary parade at the Central Stadium at 8.30 am on Tuesday with the city under heightened security.
At the venue, over 500 police personnel will be on duty. Policemen will also be deployed around sensitive areas in the city. City Police Commissioner P Prakash is supervising the security arrangements led by DCP G Jaidev and assisted by seven ACPs.
Speaking to Express, Prakash said he had instructed the local police and the patrolling team to remove flags of political parties from sensitive areas.
“Our force is fully equipped and prepared, and we need to prevent even minor instances of political clashes in certain areas. The whole city will be under surveillance,” Prakash said.
Armed police personnel will be posted at high-rise buildings around the Central Stadium. Patrolling and checking of vehicles have been intensified.
Anti-sabotage teams of the police assisted by sniffer dogs conducted thorough checks of public places, including railway stations, bus stands and commercial venues in the district.
A tight operation
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take I-Day salute at 8:30 am in Central Stadium
500 police personnel on security duty here
Armed police posted at high rises around Central Stadium
Anti-sabotage police team use sniffer dogs for checks at railways stations, bus stands and commerical venues