After last month’s blasts in Patna ahead of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Hunkar Rally’, Punjab Government is taking no chance in keeping the security top notch for the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
As Modi is scheduled to visit Moga next month, the Government is already on job to make elaborate security arrangements. In fact, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and a main constituent of National Democratic Alliance, has decided to provide Modi protection by its elite Special Protection Unit when he visits Moga to address an election rally.
Punjab Government’s decision to step up Modi’s security comes after an alert issued by the Intelligence Bureau on another attack at the BJP leader’s rally, and a day after the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has hold the Centre responsible to provide Modi foolproof security. Moreover, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal had maintained that there was no threat to Modi in Punjab. “We are not worried about Punjab. I can’t say anything about other States,” he said.
Each unit of the Special Protection Unit, which was created after Mumbai terror attacks, has two officers from the elite Special Protection Group, which guards the Prime Minister. Sharpshooters from the Special Protection Unit will also be designated to Modi’s inner security ring in Punjab. Police personnel from eight districts will also be deployed at the rally ground including 22 officers of the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police, 130 Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspector and 7000 jawans.
“The Special Protection Unit has different kinds of resources in terms of trained manpower, armoured vehicles and other equipment for anti-sabotage checks and measures,” said Punjab ADGP Security Dinkar Gupta. Apart from the Special Protection Unit and regular police commandos, officials from the Punjab Armed Police and reserve battalions will also be deployed to guard the stage and VIP enclosures.
Though the Indian Mujahideen, which investigators allege was responsible for the blasts in Patna, has no presence in the State. Terrorism has troubled Punjab in the past, and for Modi, the security agencies are being put on the maximum alert.