Republic day: High security in place in TN for a few more days

Chennai, Jan 26 (BPNS)

Even as the Republic Day celebrations in the state have almost come to an end, the high security that has been in place since the past week will continue for a couple of days more.

The Coastal Security Group (CSG) of the Tamil Nadu marine police has been on intensified patrolling for the past few days. Since the past few days, the CSG has been tightening security both in coastal areas as well as mid-sea. Sources in the Coastal police told IANS that this would continue for a few more days, given several intelligence inputs on the smuggling of arms ,drugs, and other substances through the sea.

The marine police team had also combed the uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar given the tight security arraignments in place following the Republic Day celebrations. The coastal police have been checking even the marine fishing boats in the deep sea as well as coastal areas. However, the intensity of patrolling will be reduced.

Several companies of police deployed for security arrangements in all district capitals and at the state capital Chennai will also continue for a couple of days more.

After the ban on the Islamist organization, Popular Front of India (PFI) in September 2022 by the Government of India, there have been reports from Central agencies of certain Islamist groups trying to fan up communal feelings among a section of the community. The Coimbatore Car blast of October 23, on the eve of Deepavali, in which a 29-year-old Youth Jameesha Mubin was charred to death and the subsequent arrest of Islamists from various areas of Tamil Nadu has led to the intelligence agencies upping their ante.

With Republic Day being the biggest event after the ban on PFI, the security agencies had left no stone unturned for the grand event.

The recent confrontation between the Governor and the DMK government with the governor taking certain extreme positions on Tamil Nadu has not gone down well with certain ultra-Tamil movements. The state and central intelligence agencies had, according to sources provided inputs on certain ultra-Tamil movements trying to fan up trouble and hence strong security measures were in place. Sources in the state police told BPNS that the security arrangements that were in place for the Republic Day functions would continue for a couple of days more.

A top officer of the Tamil Nadu police while speaking to BPNS said, “Tamil Nadu is a very crucial state and there were intelligence inputs on certain elements trying to fan up trouble. Even though the Republic Day celebrations have almost come to an end, we will continue with the security arrangements for a few more days.”