Massive security for PM's visit to Naxal-hit Bijapur

Security has been beefed up in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the area on April 14.

On April 9, two jawans were killed in a Naxal attack in the district.

Around 10,000 security personnel from various agencies would be a part of the multi-level security cover being put in place.

Personnel of the state's Special Task Force (STF), the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF), along with paramilitary forces and contingents of the Special Protection Group (SPG) will be part of the security set up.

"Around 10,000 security personnel are part of the watertightsecurity measures for PM's visit in Bijapur," a senior police official monitoring the security arrangements told PTI today.

The venue of the event has already been fortified and the area within a radius of 10 km around it has been sanitised, he said.

The security forces have been patrolling along with the Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) on a daily basis in the area which is densely forested, he said.

"Policemen and special commandos in civil dress have been deployed. The location (of the PM's visit) will be monitored through CCTVs, drones and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)," according to the official.

He said security personnel have been asked to be extra vigilant in the entire Bastar division, comprising seven districts, in view of the annual 'tactical counter offensive campaign' (TCOC) being observed by Maoists from March-June.

The Naxalites have opposed Modi's Bijapur visit and put up pamphlets in the interior area asking people to boycott his programme.

On April 9, Naxals targeted a bus ferrying security personnel with an improvised explosive device (IED) that left two DRG jawans dead and five others injured in Bijapur's Kutru area.

On April 14, the PM will launch the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme from Jangla village in Bijpaur, commemorating the birth anniversary of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar.

Under the scheme, the government plans to open 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres across the country to provide people-centric comprehensive primary health care.

Also, over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) in the country will be provided treatment with coverage up to Rs 5 lakh per family every year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

The PM is also scheduled to launch the Van Dhan Yojna.