Tight security for Prez's visit to naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh

A three-layered security cover has been put in place in the naxal-affected Dantewada and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh where President Ram Nath Kovind will be on two-day visit from tomorrow, during which he will take part in several programmes.

The security cover, involving the personnel of the state's special forces, including Special Task Force (STF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG), along with Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action), has been put in place, a senior police official monitoring security arrangements told PTI.

Around 7,000 security personnel are part of the water-tight security measure for the president's visit to Dantewada and Bastar, he said.

"Area within the radius of the 10 kms of all venues has been sanitised. Personnel in uniform will be deployed at all the venues, the routes and the rest houses," the official said, adding Inspector General (IG) of Police-rank officers will be monitoring the security at each venues where the president will visit.

"Security forces have been conducting patrolling along with Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) on a daily basis in the area," he said.

President Kovind will arrive at Jagdalpur airport in Bastar on Wednesday around 10.30 am, from where he will directly proceed to Jawanga in Dantewada on a helicopter, a government public relation official said.

From Jawanga, he will reach Heeranar village by road, where he will interact with farmers and Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the Integrated Farming System centre, he said.

In Heeranar, the president will also interact with students at Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and have lunch with them. Later, he will interact with the students of Saksham School and Astha Vidya Mandir in Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Education City premises.

Kovind will inaugurate YUVA BPO centre in the education city campus and will interact with its employees, the official said.

After an overnight stay at the rest house in Chitrakote of Bastar, the president will dedicate Jagdalpur Medical College Hospital to the nation, and address a public gathering at around 11 am on Thursday, the official said.

Kovind will leave for Delhi from Jagdalpur airport at around 12.40 pm on Thursday, he added.