With 13 days left for President Pranab Mukharjee's visit to Kangra valley, the police department has tightened security in the state.
The President is scheduled to be in Shahpur of Kangra to attend the second convocation of Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) on February 12. Over thousand policemen, 100 police posts, support vehicles, mobile security units and sandbag bunkers have been kept ready along the16 kilometer stretch from Gaggal Airport to CUHP, said Kangra additional superintendent of police (ASP) Mohit Chawla.
The stretch has been divided into eight sectors, he said. Each sector will be supervised by an official of the SP rank while mobile security units will be on patrol along the route, he said.
“Apart from that, Shahpur- Pathankot road has been divided into four reserve sectors in case President travels on the route,” Chawla told.
Chawla said around 1400 persons equipped with sophisticated weapons would be deployed for president's security while arrangements for medical emergency have been made at Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College, Tanda.
“This is an estimated number. The exact figures would be finalised in two or three days,” said Chawla, who also said that department has also written to the deputy commissioner and all other concerned departments for other necessary arrangements like clearing roads and accommodation.
He said a rehearsal of security personnel will be held on February 8 while a meeting with the President's security officers is scheduled to be held a day before his visit. SP Kangra Balbir Thakur was also in Shimla to brief acting chief secretary P Mitra on security arrangements, he said.
{{/usCountry}}He said a rehearsal of security personnel will be held on February 8 while a meeting with the President's security officers is scheduled to be held a day before his visit. SP Kangra Balbir Thakur was also in Shimla to brief acting chief secretary P Mitra on security arrangements, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, sources said that administration had planned to build a temporary helipad near CUHP but could not find a suitable place after which Gaggal airport was finalised as the landing site for president's helicopter.