SPG takes over PM rally venue in Srinagar

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Srinagar on December 8, extraordinary security measures are being put in place to ensure that no untoward incident takes place before or during his rally. The elite Special Protection Group or SPG has already taken over the rally venue—Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium—at Sonwar here.
This will be Modi’s first public meeting in Srinagar.
Senior police officials here said a Deputy Inspector General-rank SPG officer along with his team has already arrived in Srinagar. “They have almost taken over the control of Sher-i-Kashmir Stadium,” they said, adding, “Sanitization of the venue is going on for the past two days.”
The Prime Minister, according to official sources, would either land at Army Helipad inside Headquarters of Army’s 15 Corps or at the Nehru Helipad here.
In connection with Modi’s rally, an official said, a crucial Advance Security Liaison Meeting was held Thursday morning here. The meeting was attended by the DIG-rank SPG officer, Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar,  SSP Security, District Magistrate Srinagar, officers of paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies.
“Internal security will be managed by the SPG and security wing of J&K Police,” he said, adding, “More than 30 companies of paramilitary forces are being deployed for the PM rally.”
Sources said sharp shooters are also being deployed on high-rise buildings around the venue.
“The people who would attend the rally would be frisked at nearly a dozen places before they enter the Stadium,” they said, adding, “Closed Circuit Television cameras would also be installed inside the stadium while SPG personnel would be monitoring activities of the crowd with binoculars.”
A report said Stadium has virtually been sealed by the forces while special checkpoints have been set up at various places in the city and its outskirts.