The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : City under security blanket

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jan 08, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

City under security blanket

S. Vijay Kumar and P. Oppili

— Photo: AFP

LEAVING NO STONE UNTURNED: Paramilitary soldiers stand guard at the Chennai Trade Centre.

CHENNAI: A security blanket has been thrown around Chennai and suburbs ahead of the visit of President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and a host of other VIPs to the city to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention.

The Chennai Trade Centre, venue of the event, has been taken over by the Special Protection Group.

Hundreds of police personnel, including the Commandos of the Tamil Nadu Commando Force, have been deployed at vantage points. About 1,500 delegates are expected to take part in the convention.

Besides 10 Quick Reaction Teams, guards of the Rapid Action Force, drawn from the Central Reserve Police Force, have been deployed at strategic locations. Surveillance cameras have been installed to pan the entire premises, and a control room has been set up to monitor the proceedings, say police sources.

Two officers in the rank of Deputy Inspector General and 14 Superintendents of Police from other units have been roped in for the security. The security arrangements for the Prime Minister’s visit have been worked out in view of threat perceptions.

While the Coastal Security Group is coordinating with the Navy and the Coast Guard in patrolling, and surveillance of, the coast, the local police have mounted vigil on refugee camps and sensitive areas. Patrolling and vehicle checks have been intensified on all roads leading to the venue.

“A high level of security arrangement is in place. Photo identity cards and vehicle passes have been issued to all delegates, ” Chennai Suburban Commissioner of Police S.R. Jangid said.

During the visit of the Prime Minister and the President, the Special Protection Group will take over the airport and the function venue. With the help of the police, they will cordon off the entire area and make it a sterile zone. The role of the local police or the CISF personnel will be minimal during such visits.

Visitors banned

As for the security at the airport, a security officer said the first and foremost would be banning the entry of visitors into the airport. The CISF would thoroughly check baggage. A ‘Quick Reaction Team’ has been deployed. The team consists of 23 commandos who have been specially trained by the National Security Guard.

The CISF will also patrol along the wall of the airport and monitor the movements of people on closed-circuit television. This will help to stop anyone from entering the sterile zone.

Since the Mumbai terror attacks in November last, the movement of vehicles has been restricted at the airport; no vehicle is allowed to take the service road closer to the terminal building. Another security measure taken after the Mumbai attacks is the erection of sand bag bunkers. The CISF has requested the Airports Authority of India to provide a permanent facility to have a bunker on the entire stretch, from near the international departure hall to the domestic arrival hall, at the northern end of the airport, the officer said.

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