Tiruchy cops leave nothing to chance

4 watch towers at airport, unmanned aerial vehicles will form part of security ring ahead of Modi’s visit for party’s youth conference
Tiruchy cops leave nothing to chance

Police have planned special security arrangements including watch towers and unmanned aerial vehicles for the visit of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to the city to address the party’s youth wing conference on September 26.

Police are on their toes as a few organisations have opposed his visit and security has been beefed up at G-Corner, the meeting venue.

Police sources said, in order to ensure the safety of the convoy, four watch towers are erected on the way from Tiruchy airport to the meeting venue and police would be deputed on duty round the clock. This apart, the meeting venue has also come under the custody of police and watch towers were made around the area also. Police have planned a special route for Modi, who is expected to arrive between 2.30 pm and 3 pm and drive to the meeting spot directly.

Besides, a team of police officials from Gujarat is expected to arrive here on Monday night and they will monitor the entire security arrangements. The intelligence department is also in touch with the city police and have been giving instructions on the arrangements.

“The intelligence wing is satisfied with the security arrangements and have been updating them with Gujarat police”, a police official said. “The security arrangements are made based on a study on security given by Gujarat police as per Modi’s requirement”, the official further said.

On the eve of the conference, the police will conduct an advance security liaison meeting and organise a complete security rehearsal from the airport to the function venue.

Police visibility has increased in the entire city and they are taking the list of people residing close to the meeting venue. Their address and the family details are gathered through their ration cards.

More than 5,000 police personnel will be deputed on duty while SPs of different districts and DIGs of various ranges form part of the security arrangements.

Aerial Monitoring

Police sources said Deputy Inspector General of Police (Technical wing) M C Sarangan would arrive in a couple of days and take measures for the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor the situation. Police said the deployment of such a vehicle for the meeting would be first of its kind in Tiruchy. Inspector General of Intelligence) Amresh Pujari and other higher officials would be camping in the city for a couple of days to monitor the entire arrangements.

Heavy vehicles from Chennai via Perambalur, Salem, Dindigul and Madurai are diverted at Perambalur and reach Thuvarankurichi via Musiri, Kulithalai, Manapparai. The vehicles bound from Chennai to Thanjaur and Pudukkottai are diverted at Perambalur, Kunnam and Ariyalur.

INL Charge on Cops

The Indian National League (INL) on Monday alleged local residents in Tiruchy are being harassed by the police ahead of the visit of BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to that city and sought the intervention of the DGP to put an end to this.

INL Tamil Nadu general secretary J Abdul Rahim submitted a petition to DGP K Ramanujam urging him to restrain the police.

“The police are making frequent visits to a few areas and repeatedly questioning them about their credentials. Even longtime residents are viewed with suspicion and questioned. On a request from the police, a local college near the meeting venue had also announced holiday on Thursday when the meeting is scheduled. But still the police are making frequent visits,” Rahim said.

The INL leader alleged that the BJP cadre are themselves damaging the banners erected to welcome Modi and are blaming people from a particular community, leading to unwarranted tensions in the state.

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The New Indian Express
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