High alert in Madurai for Sonia's visit

Madurai, Aug 11: A thick security blanket has been thrown across the city and along the south-eastern coastline of Tamil Nadu, a day ahead of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit to this temple town.

Ms Gandhi was coming to the city to inaugurate the newly-laid Manamadurai-Rameswaram broad gauge (BG) line and flag off the first train service from Rameswaram to Chennai Egmore at a function here tomorrow evening, in which Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and several other leaders would participate.

Three special cameras have been installed at Rameswaram Railway Station, Pamban Bridge and Mandapam for live coverage to enable the people assembled at the function venue to witness the special train reaching Rameswaram.

The venue of the function was shifted from Rameswaram to Madurai for security reasons following inputs from the Special Protection Group (SPG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) in view of Rameswaram's proximity to Sri Lanka. The move was also in the wake of protests by various Hindu outfits as the town would draw lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country tomorrow, being 'Aadi Ammavasai' (new moon day), to pay obeisance to their elders.

A senior police official of the State Intelligence Section told the sources that over 2,500 police personnel have been deployed in Madurai on bandobust duty. Armed policemen have taken positions at vulnerable points. Night patrolling and vehicle check ups have been intensified in view of the VVIP visit.

Anti-sabotage checks were being conducted at the Madurai Medical College grounds, the venue of the function. A bullet-proof dais was being readied by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.

National Security Guard (NSG) commandos personally supervised the security arrangements at the function venue this morning and took control of the venue.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have positioned three warships along the Palk Bay and the Palk Strait in view of Ms Gandhi's visit and sea patrolling had been enhanced.

Quoting defence sources, the police said that apart from routine surveillance, additional crafts and patrol vessels have been deployed, while naval detachments along the sea coast have been activated. Air surveillance had also been carried out along the shore, while marine commandos in rubber boats have been posted at the Forward Observation Point at Arichamunai in Rameswaram to prevent infiltration of LTTE cadre.

UNI