Unprecedented security arrangements at Saifai

KANPUR: Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in Etawah in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to attend the ‘tilak’ ceremony of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandnephew Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday.
Kanpur (zone) IG Ashutosh Pandey said police forces from Etawah, Agra and Kanpur, besides state police headquarters have also been deputed for security.
Besides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, JDU leader Sharad Yadav and Amitabh Bachchan, around 1.30 lakh invitees including the country's high and mighty, are likely to attend the ceremony.
Routes leading to Saifai air-strip being used by VVIP's will be guarded by para-military troopers. The personnel will be deployed on both sides of the road leading to the main venue.
Hundreds of police, PAC and RAF personnel will be deployed on Saifai airstrip since early Saturday morning. “Eleven companies of PAC, two companies of RAF, eight SPs, seven ASPs, 20 DSPs, 40 inspectors, 210 sub-inspectors, 50 head constables, 900 constables, 50 ‘mahila’ constables and a commando team of Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), anti-sabotage team and a bomb disposal squad have been arranged for the successful commencement of the event,” said Ashtosh Pandey.
Police and paramilitary personnel were sensitised by their seniors during rehearsal all through Friday.
Keeping in mind the huge turnout, specially designed German hanger pandals have been erected at the venue. Adequate security personnel were also deployed across all the guest houses in Saifai.
The 50 km long Etawah-Saifai stretch would be strictly monitored, the IG said.
Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in and around the main pandal where the ‘tilak’ ceremony would take place. “CCTV cameras are being installed at important junctions at the main venue to monitor the activities,” informed another senior police official while talking to TOI.
Sources said after the confirmation of Prime Minister's visit, Special Protection Group (SPG) has already taken over the security of the places the Prime Minister would be visiting during his stay in Saifai. “His security team on Friday evening visited the venue and Saifai airstrip and reviewed the arrangements,” senior cops told TOI.
The multi-tier security will remain in place on Saturday and patrolling has been intensified in the Yadav land.
About 700 civic workers were engaged since the past few days to clean the roads and lift the garbage from across Saifai town at an unusually efficient manner.
Son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's nephew late Ranveer Singh Yadav, Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap and the youngest daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav had got engaged on December 16. They will tie knot on February 26 in Delhi.