India: Security Beefed up Ahead of Independence Day Celebrat
- 14 years ago
Security has been beefed up in India's eastern and northeastern states after militant groups gave a call to boycott upcoming Independence Day celebrations.
India celebrates its Independence Day on Sunday.
Police and security forces in the northeastern state of Assam are on their toes to prevent any effort to mar national day celebrations.
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom sent out an email to local media calling for a boycott and a 15-hour general strike on Sunday.
Security personnel have been deployed at public places like railway stations, bus stands, and at the Latasil playground, where the state's official celebrations will take place.
Passengers are being searched by police at the main Guwahati city station, while police personnel have been stationed at all entry and exit points of the city.
Officials say special forces have also been called in.
[P C Saloi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Guwahati]: (English)
"Some organizations like ULFA and other organizations… they have given a boycott call. So, in view of this boycott call and in the view of all the inputs we have received so far, we have already made some foolproof plans so that nothing goes wrong during the celebrations of this Independence Day."
The ULFA has been battling for a separate state since 1979. Some 20,000 people have been killed in the struggle.
Meanwhile, security has also been stepped up in West Bengal following strikes and shutdown calls by Maoist rebels in the region.
Officials say measures are in place to ensure peaceful Independence Day celebrations.
[Bhupinder Singh, Director General, West Bengal Police]: (bengali)
"We still face problems in tackling this agitation. We don't want bloodshed or any kind of nuisance, and we have to tackle this peacefully."
India marks its 64th Independence Day on August 15, the day the nation was liberated from British colonial rule in 1947.
India celebrates its Independence Day on Sunday.
Police and security forces in the northeastern state of Assam are on their toes to prevent any effort to mar national day celebrations.
The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom sent out an email to local media calling for a boycott and a 15-hour general strike on Sunday.
Security personnel have been deployed at public places like railway stations, bus stands, and at the Latasil playground, where the state's official celebrations will take place.
Passengers are being searched by police at the main Guwahati city station, while police personnel have been stationed at all entry and exit points of the city.
Officials say special forces have also been called in.
[P C Saloi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Guwahati]: (English)
"Some organizations like ULFA and other organizations… they have given a boycott call. So, in view of this boycott call and in the view of all the inputs we have received so far, we have already made some foolproof plans so that nothing goes wrong during the celebrations of this Independence Day."
The ULFA has been battling for a separate state since 1979. Some 20,000 people have been killed in the struggle.
Meanwhile, security has also been stepped up in West Bengal following strikes and shutdown calls by Maoist rebels in the region.
Officials say measures are in place to ensure peaceful Independence Day celebrations.
[Bhupinder Singh, Director General, West Bengal Police]: (bengali)
"We still face problems in tackling this agitation. We don't want bloodshed or any kind of nuisance, and we have to tackle this peacefully."
India marks its 64th Independence Day on August 15, the day the nation was liberated from British colonial rule in 1947.