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Monday, Nov 23, 2009
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Special security measures for IFFI

Ziya Us Salam

PANAJI: In view of the coming anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the film festival being a possible target of terror attack, special security measures are in place for the 40th International Film Festival of India that begins here on Monday.

Four companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed at the venues hosting the festival. Every person entering them will be screened. The IFFI will see screening of over 300 films from about 50 countries in 11 days.

Goa Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had sought additional central forces to augment the Goa police personnel posted at the venues and his request was granted.

However, the police sought to underplay the security measures. Ruling out any terror threat to the festival, a spokesman said the police had not received any intelligence input about the IFFI on terrorists’ radar. “We have not received any such information,” he said.

A well placed official of the Goa Entertainment Society too dismissed rumours of any threat to the festival. “The Goa government takes all necessary steps for the festival as it is a prestigious event for us with the attention of national and international media and filmmakers on the State. However, we have not received any specific threat. Paramilitary forces have been deployed to counter any eventuality.”

S.M. Khan, Director, Directorate of Film Festivals, expressed complete confidence that the festival would be peaceful and successful. “All the required security measures are in place. We do not anticipate any problem.”

Incidentally, the festival that starts with the screening of Chinese period film ’Wheat’ will have a competition section wherein 15 films from across the world, including two from India, are in the fray. The Indian films are: Atanu Ghosh’s Bengali essay ‘Angshumanner Chhob’i and Satish Manwar’s Marathi venture ‘Gabricha Paus.’

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