UP poll: VVIP tours, SPG asks cops to gear up

Lucknow, Mar 21: With several VVIPs set to campaign in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Special Protection Group (SPG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have asked police personnel in the state to gear up for the challenge.

AICC President and Rae Bareli MP Sonia Gandhi, her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister and Lucknow MP Atal Bihari Vajpayee would campaign for their respective parties-the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Besides, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would also campaign in the seven-phase assembly elections.

Since the five top leaders enjoy SPG protection, the agency, along with sleuths of IB have started 'sensitising' state cops on VVIP security. Recently, officials from the two agencies organised an audio-visual presentation for top police officials on attacks on VVIPs. Senior officials, including additional directors general of police (ADsG), IGs, DIsG and SSPs of various districts had attended the presentation. Besides senior IB and SPG officials, including a joint director, an IG and a DIG, technical officials from IB had also attended the orientation programme.

The cops were reminded of the use of a variety of explosives -- timer devices and IEDs by terrorists, crowd control, security bandobast at road shows and shifting of VVIPs from aircraft to helicopters.

Besides the SPG protectees, UP also have several VIPs who enjoy 'Z' or Z plus security. These VIPs have either security detail provided by NGS or the ITBP. These include former chief minister and BJP leader Kalyan Singh, firebrand Ram Temple movement leader Vinay Katiyar, former union minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi and former CM and BSP president Mayawati. VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Pravin Togadia and former deputy Prime Minister and BJP veteran L K Advani, who also enjoy security by central agencies, are also expected to be present during the elections.

Since the Varanasi zone is considered a naxal-affected area, a special orientation programme for police officials posted there would be held before phase six of the elections, due in the area on May 3, a senior official who attended the meeting said here.

While Rahul Gandhi has already completed his three-day road show in West UP yesterday, Ms Gandhi, Priyanka and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would canvas for Congress candidates later.

Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would launch BJP's campaign for assembly elections on March 25 at Kanpur.

UNI