Centre asks states to be alert during visits of VVIPs

The Centre sent a fresh advisory to all states to maintain tight vigil at all political rallies especially of those having a VVIP presence following Intelligence reports suggesting that terrorists may strike in a big way in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

The Centre on Wednesday sent a fresh advisory to all states to maintain tight vigil at all political rallies especially of those having a VVIP presence following Intelligence reports suggesting that terrorists may strike in a big way in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.

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In a message sent to Directors General of Police, the Home Ministry said all necessary security steps like securing neighbouring high-rise buildings, manual frisking, putting door-framed metal detectors and total sanitisation of the place must be carried out in letter and spirit at all rallies where top leaders would attend, official sources said.

Top leaders who have high threat perception include Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders L K Advani and Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his father Farooq Abdullah, and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalitha.

The Ministry asked the states to ensure installation of CCTV cameras at the strategic locations of the entire venue and not just at the dais, they said, adding all Dos and Don'ts of security drill must be followed before the arrival of such a leader and ensure that foolproof security is made.

The Centre also advised the DGPs to brief local leaders of these political parties about the security drill and ask them to cooperate with the police.