The police have stepped up vigil across the district in view of Independence Day celebration. The VOC Grounds where District Collector T.N. Hariharan will hoist the national flag on Tuesday has been brought under the security cover of the police.
In January this year, Republic Day celebration was shifted from VOC Grounds to PRS Grounds due to security concerns. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad of the Anti-Sabotage Teams and Dog Squad conducted several rounds of thorough examination at the venue on Monday.
Security has also been tightened in strategically important places in the district like airport, railway station, Central Government institutions and bus stands. The Coimbatore International Airport has been brought under three-tier security cover. Passengers are thoroughly screened at Coimbatore Railway Station and airport.
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Policemen in plainclothes will be monitoring malls, shopping complexes and recreation centres where people congregate in large numbers. Places of worship and hotels have also been brought under the surveillance of police. Special mobile patrolling will be conducted for 24 hours.
While 2,000 policemen will be deployed for surveillance in Coimbatore city, 1,000 policemen will take care of security in rural parts of the district. Special check posts have been set up at 14 places in city and 25 places in Coimbatore rural where cops from respective police stations screen vehicles and check suspicious gathering of people.
Surveillance has also been tightened at check posts in Tamil Nadu – Kerala border. Vehicles leaving and entering districts are thoroughly screened.
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The Independence Day Celebrations at VOC Grounds will start at 8.35 a.m. on Tuesday.