Border district Kutch in Gujarat to turn into fortress from December 15 to 21 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting the district to attend 50th annual All India Conference of Director General and Inspector Generals of Police across the country to be held at Dhordo Tent City in the midst of white desert, around 80 km from district headquarters Bhuj.
Unprecedented security arrangement has been done at Dhordo Tent City for the three day event to be held from December 18 to 20. The venue is situated hardly 170 km from the neighbouring Pakistan. Major part of the 7500 sq km area of the Great Rann of Kutch has already been declared no entry zone for civilians for a week beginning from Monday by the Kutch collector. Moreover the Gujarat Government has also deployed over 2000 policemen including IGP level officers to tighten up security cover for PM.
“All the three wings of defence forces — Army, Navy and Air Force — have been put on alert. The Rann (desert) area in Kutch has been declared as no-flying zone for three days (18-20 December). The Army and Navy would be throwing a security ring around the land and sea in the district. Indian Navy will intensify patrolling in the Indian territorial waters of the Arabian Sea and Indian Air Force (IAF) would provide an air cover. No aircraft other than IAF would be allowed on the air space within 500 km of the areas during these days,” said a highly placed source in the Gujarat police.
For PM Modi special bulletproof tents — Darbar — have been erected at Dhordo. There are three tents for the Prime Minister, said a source, adding that the master tent in which Modi would be staying will have two full-size bed rooms. The Prime Minister is also reported to lead a 45-minute yoga session for the participants at the meet. At the Prime Minister cluster three helipads have also been constructed.
The Director General of Intelligence Bureau, RAW, DG of BSF, CRPF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, besides the DGPs of all the States would be participating. Over 400 police and security top brass from across India would stay at the tent city for the conference.