TN: Tight security at ISC as PM, Prez arrive on Jan 3

Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu), Jan 2: Cuddalore District has come under a thick blanket of security in view of the 94th Indian Science Congress (ISC) at Annamalai University beginning here tomorrow in which President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will participate.

Police sources here today said 6,000 uniformed personnel will be on security duty under ADGPs K V S Murthy and Nanjil Kumar apart from ten dog squads and 16 bomb disposal squads on duty.

Jammers will be strategically placed around the venue and all delegates thoroughly checked.

The entire stretch of East Coast Road (ECR) till Chidambaram has come under scanner with police manning the route. Twenty-eight checkposts have been set up in the district and lodges and marriage halls checked daily.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) and the Intelligence Agencies have been camping here from December 28.

With the Prime Minister scheduled to arrive at the venue at about 0930 hrs tomorrow, members of the Fourth Estate have been asked to be present at 0600 hrs for security clearance.

The President will attend the ISC on January five.

The security personnel will have their hands full with the 'Arudhra Darshanam' at Chidambaram Nataraja Temple scheduled for tomorrow.

About 400 personnel will be on duty to keep a watch on the 50,000 devotees expected to turn up at the temple.

UNI