The Hindu : Sport : Tight security in place

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 08, 2007
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Sport

Tight security in place

S. Sabanayakan

— Photo: R. Ragu

RED ALERT: Security personnel on duty in front of the Indira Gandhi athletics stadium at Guwahati on Wednesday.

GUWAHATI : With little less than two days to go for the inauguration of the 33rd National Games here at the Indira Gandhi athletic stadium, teams have begun to arrive on Wednesday. And the most visible part of the Games was security. A visit to the some of the venues dotting the city clearly showed that the arrangements on this most sensitive aspect of the multi-disciplined Games were unprecedented.

To make the Games as safe as possible the Assam government has put in place elaborate arrangements, not only to stop trouble-makers from creating mischief of any sort, but also to ensure the sportspersons, officials and others connected with the Games feel secure.

Despite the ULFA lifting its boycott call following appeals from the sporting community of Assam, the government has not let down its guard. The Director-General of Police has gone on record saying there will be no let-up in security arrangements. "Apart from ULFA there are as many as 14 groups operating in the state. One needs to be on guard always,'' he was quoted as saying.

As many as 20 companies of central forces have been deployed, apart from the State Armed Police. Police sources said the army has not been involved directly but was kept in the periphery of the city.

The Hindu team was held up outside the Sarusajai Complex for more than 30 minutes. The police personnel, supported by armed police totting semi-automatic weapons, did not have instructions to allow journalists carrying laptop computers and photographic equipment. Deputy Superintendent of Police Debanjan Borgohoin arrived to sort out the matter.

All the venues were taken over by the security almost a month-and-a-half before the D-day to ensure everything is fine. As the Games, billed as the biggest held so far, open here on Friday, those who are here as part of the Games will have to put up with some of the sternest security drills for the safety of all till the curtains are wrung down on February 18.

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