Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit this divisional headquarters of left-wing extremism-affected Bastar later Tuesday, where the dignitary will be protected by no less than six layers of security, involving more than 20 gazetted officers and in excess of 2,000 personnel plus drones, at Lalbagh Maidan, which is the venue of his public meeting.
Meanwhile, the state’s ruling Congress has supported a bandh called “in protest” against the Prime Minister’s sojourn.
“Senior officers are supervising personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force, including its Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, female commandos, and Border Security Force, besides local law enforcement,” Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh Meena said.
The innermost ring will comprise Special Protection Group bodyguards, then, moving outwards in concentric circles, SPG commandos, National Security Guard commandos, CRPF, the district force, whose members shall line the streets from the airport to Lalbagh, and the outermost layer will cordon off the entire town.
In the words of Inspector General (Bastar Range) Sundarraj Pattilingam, “For the past couple of days, searching has been ramped up in sensitive areas. Every district of this division is being searched, and vehicles are vigorously checked at borders. We are leaving no stone unturned.”
