Major security at rally today1

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Lalgarh, Aug. 8: With the worst apprehensions of a Maoist attack on the security forces after the today’s rally and intelligence reports suggesting the same, the state administration is leaving nothing to chances. Be it an elaborate security arrangement for Union Cabinet minister Mamata Banerjee on the venue of the rally or a chopper kept stand-by at the nearest airbase at Kalaikunda in case of an emergency exit.

Though the wooden dias resting on an elaborate bamboo structure inside the Lalgarh Ramkrishna Vidyalaya appeared far from being complete on Sunday afternoon, the blueprint for the security arrangements seemed almost done.

“The entire rally venue will be manned by policemen in plain clothes. There will be more security forces than eyes could meet,”revealed a senior IPS officer in-charge of the security arrangement. “This is the first time that a Cabinet minister is going to hold a public rally in Lalgarh. We are expecting a huge turnout. The greater the outcome, the more difficult it will become to spot any suspicious activity,”he reasoned.

As men with and without uniform will try to maintain vigil over the venue, shooters with sniper rifles will be stationed on the terrace of the school building.

Apart from the meeting venue at the premises of the Lalgarh Ramkrishna Vidyalaya, the state police has identified six entry points that lead to Lalgarh. “All the six entry points — from Midnapore side crossing the Jhitka jungle, from the side of Ramgarh-Kantapahari, from Dherua-Bamal, from Netai village, through Amkalaghat village and through Dharampur-Bhulageda side have been sensitised,” revealed a senior officer of the state police. “There will be extra deployment to control and regulate the traffic to Lalgarh through all the six entry points,” he added. The entire stretch will be jointly manned and patrolled by the state and Central forces.

District Intelligence Bureau sources revealed that the cops are expecting a turnout not less than 20,000 from the adjoining villages and districts. “Though the capacity of the school ground is around 10,000, we are expecting a larger turnout. We have to keep our options open in case there is a jam,” said an officer.