Coimbatore, Aug 01: In view of the open threat by fundamentalist forces to take revenge for the Gujarat killings during Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's one-day visit to the city tomorrow, tight security blanket has been thrown in and around the city.

Anti-sabotage and bomb detection squads were engaged in checking for the last three days from airport to government guest house and the venue of public meeting, where Modi would address the Ratha Yatra, being taken out by Tamil Nadu BJP president C P Radhakrishnan in the evening.
Nearly 3,000 police personnel, drawn from rapid action force, CRPF, armed reserves in the city and nearby districts, have been kept ready to maintain law and order and to meet any eventuality, police sources said.
Security cover would be in place till the departure of Modi next morning, after overnight stay, they said.
Tightening of security comes in the wake of two accused, owing allegiance to the outlawed al-Umma, had threatened that the city would have to witness a "repeat of Feb 14" (when serial blasts claimed 58 lives during visit of L K Advani in 1998) and 'eliminate' Modi, for his alleged role in the killings of Muslims, in the aftermath of Godhra incident.



Armed checkposts, particularly on roads connecting neighbouring states have been erected and checking of vehicle and lodges intensified, they said.



Meanwhile, some organisations, including a Dravidian outfit, have reportedly planned blackflag demonstrations to protest Modi's arrival saying it would result in peace being disturbed in the city.


Bureau Report