Good news is, too much security

A file of BSF personnel in fatigues, guns slung across their shoulders, crossed the road as the media bus from the main stadium at Saruosojai to the Sonapur Sports Complex at Tapesia some 15km from Guwahati stopped to allow them access.

A file of BSF personnel in fatigues, guns slung across their shoulders, crossed the road as the media bus from the main stadium at Saruosojai to the Sonapur Sports Complex at Tapesia some 15km from Guwahati stopped to allow them access.

On the way to the venue, as the bus travelled hilly terrain, CRPF personnel manned the route, every 200m or so.

A few yards from the entrance one comes across a sand bunker with paramilitary presence. Metal detectors abound and everything is checked.

You would be tempted to call this a very sensitive area, as some did. No way. This is perhaps one of the safest places in the entire state. There has been no law and order problem in this part of the state even when some other regions were subject to terrorist strikes.

But why so much security? The road that led to the venue is also the line that divides Assam and Meghalaya, and long time ago, militants used their hit and run tactics and fled into the jungles of Meghalaya on the other side. As Assam was under the Unified Command structure where the Army, BSF, CRPF and the State forces work under one command, which is the State8217;s Chief Minister, militants can8217;t flee further within the state, but found it easy to slip into the jungles nearby which belongs to a different state.

It is also said that some militants used the hills adjacent to the sports complex as their base and hideout. 8220;This is just ensure that nothing goes wrong,8221; says a police official.

It has unnerved visiting journos a bit, Sarajevo and such places being dragged into the conversation, but it is the same in all major sporting events all around the world today, recounts former Olympian and Arjuna Award winning archer Limba Ram.

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Not only Limba, most players around are only happy to see so much security. 8220;We did hear about the threats and boycott call given by the ULFA, but never for once did we think of skipping the event or being scared of coming here,8221; said Soumesh Gupta, captain of the Uttar Pradesh fencing squad.

8220;All these securitymen are here for our safety so why should we be worried or frightened? It feels good to know that you are secure,8221; said Aruna Masand the Goan boxer even as she prepares for her 60kg bout that is coming up shortly.