Tamil Nadu   

TMMK plans to block trains at four places

— Photo: K. Ananthan

ON HIGH ALERT: Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali reviewing the preparedness of the police personnel mobilised for security duty on the eve of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary in Coimbatore on Friday.

Coimbatore/Tirupur: The police have provided tight security at sensitive pockets and in the places of public congregation in the city for the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary on December 6, even as the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) has announced ‘rail roko’ agitations at four places in the district.

City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali reviewed the security arrangements and oversaw the deployment of additional reinforcements including the Special Task Force (STF) commandos and paramilitary force personnel such as Rapid Action Force.

Vital installations have been provided with armed security guards. Vehicle checks and checks in lodges have been stepped up and anti-sabotage teams and sniffer dog squads have been kept ready.

TMMK secretary M.H. Abbas, in a statement, said that the demolition of Babri Masjid came as a big insult to the secular nation.

Even after 16 years, justice was getting delayed in terms of punishing those responsible for the kar seva and reconstructing the mosque on the disputed site.

To draw the attention of the Centre towards the issue, the TMMK had called for ‘rail roko’ agitations on Saturday at Podanur and Pollachi at 11.30 a.m. and at Coimbatore Junction and Tirupur Junction at 12 noon.

Southern Railway, in a press release, has requested passengers to arrive at the railway stations well ahead of the departure time of the train to make it easy for the security personnel to screen their luggage and frisk them. Passengers have been requested to cooperate with the police and the railway officials for ensuring safety.

Southern Railway has suspended the sale of platform tickets from Friday evening and the issuance of platform tickets for those accompanying the passengers will resume on December 8. Already booking of parcels in trains has been stopped.

The police have stepped up security in the vicinity of places of worship and in communally sensitive areas in the city in the wake of 16th anniversary of the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6.

Official sources said that one Additional Superintendent of Police, three Deputy Superintendents of Police, 10 Inspectors, 40 Sub-Inspectors and 400 policemen had been deployed under the direct control of Superintendent of Police (Coimbatore rural) G. Karthikeyan, as part of the extra security measures.

Vehicles coming into the city were being checked at seven entry points. A total of 10 stationary pickets had been established in sensitive areas, with each unit comprising four armed police personnel specially trained in anti-sabotage activities.

Important bus terminuses and railway stations had been brought under strict vigil. Luggage of passengers was screened using metal detectors before they were allowed to board the buses and trains. Besides, people were frisked and their belongings checked at busy commercial areas in random.

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