Security stepped up in TN for R Day

Chennai, Jan 24: Security arrangements is being further stepped up throughout Tamil Nadu in view of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

Police said increased security drill is being carried out from last midnight and round-the-clock security measures were made by deploying additional forces in all the important temples, churches and other places of worship across the state.

Temple authorities were asked to close all the entrances, except the main ones and allow the devotees and staffs to enter only through the metal detector frames.

The Police administration directed the security personnel, manning check-posts, particularly in the coastal areas to be extra vigilant and keep a close watch on the movement of outsiders besides intensifying checkup of vehicles.

Meanwhile, Airports Authority of India (AAI) had clamped a ban for five days on entry of visitors in the airports in Tamil Nadu, including the Kamaraj Domestic Airport and the Anna International Airport in Chennai as a preventive measure in connection with the Republic Day celeberations.

Apart from enhanced security arrangements, the five-day ban was imposed with effect from January 22 to the midnight of January 26, AAI sources said.

Southern Railway sources said with the assistance of Government Railway Police and the local police, personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) were carrying out security measures in all the important railway stations, rail bridges, road overbridges and other vital installations of the railway network.

Patrolling of tracks were also being intensified in the entire railway network, especially in vulnerable places, the sources said adding that passengers and their baggages were allowed entry in the station premises only after a full scanning besides asking the parcel booking authorities to take extra care before booking any articles.

The RPF personnel posted in the luggage booking offices were scanning every parcel with metal detectors before allowing the luggage to be placed in the booking area, sources added.

City Police Commissioner Letika Saran said more than 10,000 police personnel were deployed for providing bandobust around the city. As part of the stepped up security measures from last night, patrolling had been intensified and vehicles entering the city were being checked, she said.

A close watch is being kept on the movement of outsiders as well as private lodging houses in the city, she added adding adequate police personnel were delployed in all the crowded places, shopping malls, important railway stations, Moffusil bus terminal at Koyambedu, temples, churches and places of worships in the city and suburbs.

Additional security has been provided to foreign consulates, particularly US consulate and the residences of its staff, she added.

The local police would assist the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in carrying out enhanced security measures at the City airport and areas around the Ennore Port.

She said the extra security measures would continue till January 27 in view of the one-day cricket match between India and West Indies to be held on that day.

UNI