Southern Tripura under security blanket for PM's visit

Udaipur, Feb 19 (UNI) The entire southern part of Tripura,especially Udaipur town, has virtually been turned into a fortress as elaborate security arrangements are being made for the election rally of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here today.

The rally ground - K B I field - the centre of the town, has been surrounded by police contingents and more than a thousand men in uniform, including the central paramilitary forces, were deployed on National Highway Agartala-Sabroom as well as at the helipad at Palatana upto the rally place.

South Tripura Superintendent of Police K V Shreejesh told UNI that besides state police and plainclothes special branch personnel, a huge contingent of central paramilitary forces were deployed in and around the rally spot while the entry points to the town on both sides were also heavily guarded.

According to the schedule, Dr Singh would land at the Agartala airport at around 1300 hours and immediately he would proceed to Palatana by special helicopter. Later, he would travel about eight kilometres from the helipad to the K B I ground in a special vehicle.

The Prime Minister would address the election rally here at around 1400 hours today and after that, he is scheduled to have a brief interaction with Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee officials on election issues before leaving the state.

Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office and AICC general secretary Prithviraj Chavan and senior party leaders would receive the Prime Minister at Palatana.

The security has also been tightened in all the bordering locations of West and South Tripura in accordance with the advice of the teams from the Special Protection Group and Intelligence Bureau, who had arrived here four days back, to make the security arrangements for the Prime Minister.

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