Chennai, Aug 13:
Heightened security arrangements were put in place in Tamil Nadu as part of the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, when Chief Minister Vijay will, for the first time, host the National Flag from the ramparts of Fort. St.George in the city and deliver his maiden address.
Police sources said, though there was no specific threat to the state, multi-layer security arrangements were put in place across the state with the deployment of nearly one lakh police personnel.
Heightened security was put in place in all vital installations like airport, railway stations, bus depots, and in places were public congregate in large numbers.
A five-tier security was made in all the airports, which were manned by the CSIF personnel. Sniffer dogs and bomb detection and disposal squad personnel were also deployed as part of fool-proof security measures. Entry of visitors were banned till further orders
and passengers with valid tickets only were allowed entry after thorough frisking and scanning of their baggages.
Tight security arrangements were also made at the parking lots in the airports where the CISF personnel were conducting regular checks and maintaining a round-the-clock vigil.
Security was also tightened in the Railway Stations with the installation of metal detectors.
Passengers were allowed only with valid tickets after frisking and their personal belongings were subjected to thorough scanning before they were allowed to board the train.
Multi-tier security arrangements were also put in places in all temples, churches and mosques and all places of worship.
Police were maintaining tight vigil in all major temples like the Sri Ranganathaswany Temple in Srirangam, Sri Parthasarathy Swamy temple in Chennai, Lord Varadharajar temple in Kancheepuram, famous Goddess Meenakshi Amman temple in Madurai, Sri Ramanathasamy Temple at Rameswaram, historic Lord Kapaleeswar temple in Chennai, Lord Annamalaiar Temple in Tiruvannamalai and other temples.
Vehicle checks were intensified across the state by installing check posts and all the vehicles entering the state were subjected to thorough checks.
In all the cities and districts, police have intensified patrolling and vehicle checks. All lodges and hotels were also being searched to ascertain whether any anti-social element or those with any criminal background was staying.
Senior police officials in all major cities and districts were directed to maintain tight vigil to prevent any toward incident.
In Chennai city, more than 10,000 police. personnel were deployed on security duty, according to Police. A five-tier security arrangement was made in the city and close to 10,000 police personnel were deployed on duty to maintain constant vigil.
With the Chief Minister set to unfurl the tricolour for the first time, all the routes being covered by him and the areas surrounding the Fort St. George were declared as “Red Zone”, and flying of drones, UAVs and other unmanned items were banned.
As a precautionary measure tight arrangements were made in airports, railway stations, bus stands, Chennai metro stations, commercial establishments, coastal areas and sea shores, places of worship and all vital installations and the routes being travelled by VIPs coming under the Chennai police jurisdiction.
All hotels and lodges were being checked round the clock, two-wheeler and four-wheeler patrolling and vehicle checks were intensified, police said.