Tight security for President's visit to Kochi

Kochi, Dec 18 (UNI) A tight security cordon is being thrown around Kochi City as President A P J Abdul Kalam arrives here tomorrow for a two-day visit to Kerala.

Not willing to take any chances after the security goof-up during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Thiruvananthapuram on October 31, a high-level meeting was convened by Director General of Police Raman Srivastava here yesterday to discuss the security arrangements in the minutest detail.

Nearly 1,500 police personnel will be deployed in the city, DIG, Ernakulam, Ravada A Chandrasekhar said. In total, 7,000 police personnel will be deployed for the President's state visit which also includes functions at Thrissur and Kollam Districts.

Mr Chandrasekhar and Kochi Police Commissioner P Vijayan will be in charge of the security arrangements here. Specific officers have been designated for supervising the Presidential convoy and its route. Only official vehicles would be used in the convoy.

Mr Raman Shrivastava is expected to accompany the President during his visit.

During Dr Manmohan Singh's visit, a hired taxi piloting the prime ministerial convoy had led the convoy off the designated route, causing anxious moments for the security personnel.

The Coast Guard has also been alerted to take care of the security arrangements along the coastal areas, senior Coast Guard officials told UNI.

President Kalam is scheduled to arrive at a special helipad at Marine Drive at 1330 hrs tomorrow. He will attend two functions in the city in the afternoon and stay at the Government Guest House for the night.

He is scheduled to leave Kochi at 0900 hrs on December 20 to attend functions in Thrissur and Kollam.

Dr Kalam will return to Kochi and leave from the Nedumbasserry International Airport at 1730 hrs on December 20.

UNI ARC GM PB DS1340