Chennai: Security has been stepped up across the State and airports in view of the 71st Independence Day celebrations to be held Wednesday. Around 20,000 personnel have been roped in to monitor the security situation in the city and over one lakh policemen have been deployed across the State.
Temporary vehicle check posts have been erected at vital points to track entry and exit of vehicles to the city. Further, police are conducting regular checks in hotels, lodges, marraige halls and other commercial establishments to review the situation. Regular offenders have been detained as a precautionary measure and night patrol have been stepped up.
Following a communique by the Home Ministry regarding the same, all airports, bus terminals, railway stations and other important destinations have been put on high alert.
Police have also intensified vigil at all important places like, commercial establishments, shopping malls, amusement parks, where public would throng in large numbers.
Barricades have been erected in various parts of the city as part of intensifying the vehicle checks. The police have also instructed the public to alert the local station if they spot people moving under suspicious manner.
Security was also beefed up in all Railway stations. Apart from police personnel in uniform, those in plain clothes were also deployed on security duty.
Vigil has been tightened at the Chennai airport and the passengers were allowed to board the flight only after seven-layer checking and a ban on visitors’ entry inside the airport is also in place.
Accordingly, armed police would be on patrol at the airport and the officials are closely monitoring the area through the CCTV cameras, airport officials said. The enhanced security system is expected to be in place until 22 August.