GUWAHATI, Jan 24 - With the Republic Day approaching, specially trained police and security personnel along with men from the commando battalion have been deployed in the jungle areas along the inter-state borders to prevent militants from sneaking into Assam to indulge in acts of violence. Meanwhile, the police and security forces may even use drones in a few vulnerable locations to check movement of militants.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order), Kula Saikia said that the police and security forces have taken all possible precautionary measures to ensure peaceful celebration of the Republic Day and called upon all sections of people to come out without fear to enjoy the celebrations.
Giving an account of the measures taken, Saikia said that the Superintendents of Police of all the districts and other field level officers have been directed to remain alert and identify the vulnerable places so that adequate patrolling and domination can be carried out to prevent movement of militants and other anti-social elements. He said that night patrolling has also been intensified and checking of vehicles including long distance buses are going on. He said that the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel have been directed to increase checking of the trains, while, the GRP along with RPF personnel are patrolling the railway tracks in the areas considered vulnerable. However, no decision has been taken to suspend night running of trains.
Saikia admitted that the jungles along the borders with Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are considered vulnerable as the militants may take advantage of the terrain to sneak into Assam. He revealed that joint operations by police and security personnel are on in such areas, while, specially trained personnel have been deployed in such areas. The Assam Police is also maintaining close coordination with the police forces of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland to check the movement of militants.
Strict surveillance is maintained on all the parade grounds and all the high rise buildings and hillocks near the grounds are kept under surveillance with security deployment. As the possibility of militants targeting the bridges, culverts, oil pipelines, etc., cannot be ruled out, instructions have been issued to the district police forces to keep a close watch on the same, while, the Village Defence Parties and members of the citizens� committees have been activated to help the police in maintaining watch over the vulnerable areas.
