The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Unprecedented security for Governor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 04, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Unprecedented security for Governor

Staff Reporter

Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Tight security: Governor R.S. Gavai inaugurating the third All-India Health Science University Vice-Chancellors’ Conference at the Achutha Menon Centre auditorium in the city on Friday. He was given tight security following DYFI threat to disrupt his programmes. –

Thiruvananthapuram:

Governor R.S. Gavai was given unprecedented security when he arrived to inaugurate the third All India Health Science University Vice-Chancellors’ Conference at the Achutha Menon Centre auditorium here on Friday evening.

Earlier, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) had threatened to prevent Mr. Gavai from attending public programmes in protest against his decision to give sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan in the SNC-Lavalin corruption case.

Official sources said the Governor had decided to attend the programme, which was scheduled earlier, despite a police intelligence forecast that DYFI activists could create trouble at the venue. He arrived at the venue with his wife, Kamala Gavai.

More than 350 baton-wielding anti-riot policemen, including those drawn from neighbouring districts, were deployed near the venue. The police also deployed its water cannon, ‘Varun.’

They kept a road clear of normal traffic for the Governor to reach the venue unimpeded. City Police Commissioner M.R. Ajith Kumar escorted the Governor to the venue. Striker units (one unit consists of 20 armed policemen travelling in a police bus) of the police tailed the Governor’s motorcade.

State police commandos were in charge of the close proximity security of the Governor along with his two aides-de-camp.

Plainclothesmen and women frisked persons entering the venue. Everyone had to pass through a doorframe-fitted metal detector.

Plainclothesmen and women of the bomb squad carried anti-sabotage checks at the venue. No one was allowed into the venue after the function started.

The Commissioner had on Wednesday written to the District Collector requesting the presence of an executive magistrate at the venue as there was a threat to the security of the Governor, who is constitutionally the head of the State.

The Governor reached the venue at 5 p.m. He left the auditorium at 6 p.m.

A large police force led by the Commissioner escorted the Governor back to his official residence at the Raj Bhavan.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, M. Gopalakrishnan; Deputy Commissioner, Administration, Jolly Cherian; Assistant Commissioner, Shanghumugham, S. Sasikumar and Circle Inspector, Medical College, V. Suresh Kumar, were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News Update

Stories in this Section