Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Security stepped up for Babri Masjid demolition anniversary

Staff Reporter

About 1,500 policemen have been deployed since Monday

ALWAYS ALERT: An armed police personnel keeping watch near a place of worship in the city on Tuesday. - PHOTO:S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Coimbatore: In view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary falling on Wednesday, security has been stepped up in and around Coimbatore.

The enhanced security measures were only as a matter of precaution, police said. The Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, K. Rajendran, has reviewed the arrangements in seven districts in West Zone.

The security has been tightened in Mettuppalayam, Tirupur, Perur and Pollachi besides installing check posts on arterial roads in Coimbatore Rural District. Superintendent of Police A.T. Duraikumar and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Coimbatore Range, M.N. Manjunatha, reviewed the arrangements.

In Coimbatore city, the 31 check posts on all arterial and feeder roads have been strengthened with armed police personnel round-the-clock.

New check posts have been established on all feeder roads, said the Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, C.K. Gandhi Rajan. A detailed bandobust plan has been implemented under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), K. Shanmugavel. A total of 1,500 police personnel have been deployed since Monday night. The services of the Swift Action Force (SAF) and Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion have been availed of besides keeping the Central Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force companies in state of a readiness for contingency situations, if any. Armed pickets with wireless sets have been posted at sensitive pockets. Security measures have been stepped up in vital installations such as banks, treasury, telephone exchanges, and railway stations besides airport, All India Radio and Doordarshan. A total of 25 mobile patrols vehicles would be on the roads besides `striking forces' for ensuring instant and swift reaction. Four Anti-Sabotage Teams of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) are also kept ready. Passengers entering the railway station are being subjected to frisking besides having their luggage scanned.

Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) and Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMD) have been pressed into service at the railway stations and the police have requested the passengers to reach well ahead of the departure time to go through the security measures without any hardship. As a matter of precaution, booking of cargo parcels has been restricted till December 7, officials said.

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