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National Games will be a smooth event, says Duggal

Sushanta Talukdar

Security reviewed in the wake of ULFA's boycott call

GUWAHATI: Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal on Thursday said the National Games to be held here from February 9 to 18 would be a "safe, smooth and successful" event.

Mr. Duggal was here to review the security preparedness for the games in the wake of the boycott call of the United Liberation Front of Asom of the mega sports event.

Emerging from a meeting with the top brass of the Unified Command here, he told reporters that security measures would be "foolproof" and that the Government would take every possible step in a pro-active manner to make the games "safe, smooth and successful."

The meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Secretary P.C. Sharma, Director-General of Police R.N. Mathur and General Officer-Commanding 4 Corps Lt. Gen. R.K. Chabra.

Mr. Duggal said security deployment would be normal as in the case of any large event. Reinforcement would be made wherever necessary.

He met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and discussed the security measures.

Asked if the Centre viewed the ULFA's boycott call a serious threat, he said: "We hope it is not serious. However, we have to be prepared."

He urged the ULFA to abjure violence and come to the negotiating table. He said all right thinking people must be part of the historic moment of hosting a large event such as the National Games to help earn the State a good name.

Mr. Duggal said the Centre was ready to discuss all possible issues if the ULFA abjured violence and stopped extortion.

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National Games will be a smooth event, says Duggal

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