In the wake of the Patna blasts, the Centre has prepared an impregnable three-tier security ring for BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi. Around 108 National Security Guards along with commandos of the Gujarat Police as well as additional forces from the state will be deployed. After the Gandhi Maidan explosions on October 27, the main Opposition BJP had demanded Special Protection Group security for Modi, who is on the hit-list of terrorist outfits like Lashkar- e-Toiba and Indian Mujahideen. The Centre has introduced an elaborate VIP protection regime for Modi with Advance Security Liaison drills.
Although the Home Minister had refused SPG cover to him, the Centre has introduced a well-planned elaborate VIP protection regime for Modi with Advance Security Liaison (ASL) drills and a three-tier security ring with experienced commandos on duty. “A team of senior police officials and Intelligence Bureau (IB) will have minutewise details at least 15 days ahead of Modi’s scheduled visits anywhere in the country. They will coordinate with the state police, NSG and Gujarat Police Commandos to work out the operational security planning, including mine sweeps, threat identification and close protection during public events or political rallies,” sources said. A senior official said there will be at least four to five ASL meeting with state agencies, which will fix the itinerary of Modi’s visit, starting from flight landing to route and hotel, if he is staying overnight. The security audit of the route, sweeping of high-rise buildings on the way and ASL meetings with hotel staff will be prepared well in advance and it will be shared with NSG and Gujarat police. “The final ASL meeting — the main meeting will take place 24 hours before the programme and an elaborate plan for traffic and access control will be finalised. It has also been decided to increase the number of escort cars from four to six. The IB will also be asked to give a background briefing on past incidents on the route, venue if any,” the official said. In the three-tier security ring, the outer periphery will be secured by additional forces of the state concerned. The second tier will be secured by the Gujarat Police Commandos. A source said that after the Patna security breach, Gujarat commandos will now deploy their technical teams for mine sweeping. The third-tier or close protection will be secured by 36 NSG and Gujarat police commandos. The earlier strength of 18 NSG commandos in the inner periphery was increased in the wake of terrorists’ threats to Modi. The close protection group will be responsible to extend a security net around Modi during emergency and will execute plan for safe evacuation. Apart from the security ring, spotters from the Special Branch of a domestic spy agency and state’s local intelligence unit will be deployed to ensure that access control is not breached at any cost during the event.
Security Measures for Rally
BANGALORE: The Patna serial blasts have forced the Bangalore police to make elaborate security arrangements for Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s rally to be held here on November 17. A team of city police top brass and a delegation of state BJP leaders visited Palace Grounds, the venue of the rally, on Monday evening to draw up a security plan. “The Police Commissioner (Raghavendra Auradkar) has assured that they have taken Modi’s rally as seriously as they would treat a programme in which the Prime Minister participates. A central team and also a police team from Gujarat will come here ahead of the rally to co-ordinate the security arrangements. “The venue will be taken into police control well ahead of the event. Everyone entering the venue will be made to pass through metal detectors. There will be a sterile zone (vacant area) to ensure a safe distance of Modi’s dais from the crowd,” a senior BJP leader who was part of the delegation told Express. Auradkar and former deputy chief minister R Ashoka were among those who visited the venue.