Asom on high alert as National Games get under way

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) Unprecedented security has been put in place for the gala opening ceremony of the National Games to be inaugurated by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today.

Authorities have taken all possible steps, including the installation of closed circuit TV cameras and deployment of dog squads and bomb disposal teams to ensure that the Games go off without any hitches.

Highly trained sniffer dogs are being used on duty as part of a special squad to trace explosives inside and outside of the newly constructed Indira Gandhi Athletic stadium at Sarusajai, at the outskirts of the city.

National Games security sources said 1,200 personnel from Asom police battalions and 29 additional companies of paramilitary forces were deployed in and around Guwahati during the event.

IGP A K Mallick, in-charge of National Games security, is supervising security arrangements within 500 metres of venues with state police taking charge of other areas.

The Asom government has formed a special committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary N K Das to oversee the security arrangements. Guwahati's traffic police have unveiled a special plan to control traffic and avoid jams, which enhance security risks, officials said.

Spectators are passing through several security gates and traffic barriers before entering any venue for the opening ceremony. Cargo vehicles were barred from entering the city and diverted via National Highway 37 at Jagiroad and Baihata Chariali, officials said.

A total of 350 additional traffic police personnel have been deployed around the Games' venues to monitor traffic movement.

Thirty-seven parking lots have been created on either side of the National highway.

UNI