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A multilayer security detail of over 5,000 personnel and officers including Maharashtra’s elite Force One anti-terror commandos has been put in place for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Tuesday visit to Pune. A ban on the use of drones has been announced by police in addition to the closure of several arterial roads and traffic junctions in the city.
While the preliminary responsibility of the prime minister’s security is with the Special Protection Group, local police entities are required to put in place a layered detail for the security of the venues and the routes his convoy takes.
As per the schedule announced by the Prime Minister’s Office, around 11 am Modi will perform darshan and pooja at Dagdusheth Mandir. Later he will be conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award at a ceremony at the SP College Ground. He will thereafter flag off metro trains and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects at the Parade ground of the Shivajinagar police headquarters.
A senior officer from Pune City police said, “An elaborate security detail has been put in place after consultation with agencies concerned. A detailed security review of the venues of the various events and routes has been done over a period. The security detail has 5,000 personnel, including three companies of State Reserve Police Force and one group of the elite anti-terror commando wing, Force One.”
There will also be additional personnel who have come from neighbouring districts such as Satara, Sangli and Raigad, the officer said, adding that home guards would be deployed for tasks like crowd control.
Drone ban
In an executive order issued on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) R Raja imposed a ban on the use of drones in the city till Wednesday. “The possibility of use of drones by anti-social or inimical elements for sabotage or disturbing law and order can not be ruled out…Thus the use and flying of drones is prohibited in Pune City Police jurisdiction till August 2,”
The order issued under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure says that anyone found using camera drones in these demarcated areas during this period can be prosecuted under Indian Penal Code section 188. CrPC section 144 empowers public officials to issue orders in urgent cases pre-empting any law and order issue, while IPC section 188 pertains to “disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant”.
Road closures
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vijaykumar Magar on Sunday provided a list of roads and traffic junctions that the public is advised to avoid between 6 am and 3 pm on Tuesday. His notification advises the public to avoid the connecting roads to following traffic junctions: Pune University Square, Simla Office Square, Sancheti Chowk, SG Barve Chowk, Budhwar Chowk, Sevasadan Chowk, Alka Chowk, Tilak Chowk, Jedhe Chowk, Sadalbaba Chowk and Golf Club Chowk. The residents have also been advised to avoid Sangamwadi Chowk, Fergusson College and Vimantal Road. The notification does not list any alternative routes for the public.
