Visakhapatnam: National Security Guards (NSG), Special Protection Group (SPG), Octopus and few other security personnel for counter terrorist operations landed in Vizag city to ensure security during the International Fleet Review (IFR). Security was tightened following the intelligence bureau warning on the suspected intrusion by terrorists in coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The men in uniform have a tough time to make IFR incident free, be it crowd management or eliminating chances of terror attacks. The police are little worried about the slim chances of terror attack, especially after the IB issued a country-wide alert notice, post the Pathankot attack reportedly by the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed. The police will be deploying over 15,000 cops, excluding the police beef-up in the Maoist-infested areas in Vizag Agency.
Sources said that over 3,000 police have been exclusively earmarked for the traffic management and the rest have been put on bandobast, security, law and order duties. Nearly 10,000 men have made their way into the city and the remaining will be come by February 2. A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said that nearly 20,000 invitees, 1,500 VIPs and VVIPs and around 1.5 lakh general public will watch the IFR activities on February 7 at RK Beach in the city. A small rumour can trigger a panic and security arrangements at an open place is also a little different and difficult.
“We are placing cops in mufti to handle all kinds of situations for smooth management of the event,” he added. The security personnel are on their toes after the Goa government recently received a purported IS letter, in which they threatened to harm the PM Narendra Modi and few others, who will be visiting Vizag to watch IFR on February 6 and 7. Sources also said that the cops have been changing the security plans according to the timings and few other factors.
