Tight security arrangements 'follow' the Jung-e-Azadi rally

Meerut, UP, May 8 (UNI) More than 400 National Security Guards Commandos (NSG) and hovering helicopters formed part of tight security arrangements made by the district administration for the Jung-e-Azadi rally to celebrate the 150 anniverasry of the first war of Indian independence.

''Police pickets could be seen at a distance of every 300 metres within the city limits and every 500 to 700 metres outside the city. Paramilitary forces and several policemen have been deployed all along the designated route of the rally,'' Meerut District Magistrate Mukesh Gupta told UNI here.

Reconnaissance mission are being carried out by the helicopters as part of the security arrangement to get an aerial view of any security breach.

Several companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed to ward off any security hazard.

Besides, the UP police have been deployed at fixed intervals to keep an eye on the movement of the rally.

Moreover, for every batch of rally participants coming from different states a dedicated force has been allotted which would keep interacting regularly with them, informed the District Magistrate.

Along with this, local intelligence unit and other informers have been pressed into service for strict vigilance.

Every district in the region has been asked to put in place its own vigilant groups which will report directly to the administration on any lacunaes found or reported from anywhere.

To add to it all, several medical teams amd vans will be stationed all along the route, besides some of them moving with the rally to serve any and every need.

Such a water-tight security cover has been built to provide an added sense of security to the participants of the rally in view of the reports of Lashkar-e-Toiba militants threatening to target the rally.

UNI