Basic security arrangements made ahead of Barack Obama's visit to Agra

LUCKNOW: Basic security arrangements have been made ahead of US President Barak Obama's visit to Agra on January 27 though only a tentative schedule of his trip to the city of Taj has been made available, Uttar Pradesh Police today said.

"Keeping in view the proposed visit of US president Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, a meeting was today held by DGP A K Gupta," IG (Law and Order) A Satish Ganesh said.

He said that basic preparations have been made for the proposed visit. Ganesh said that for security purposes DG (Security) Gopal Gupta has been stationed in Agra as the nodal officer.

He said that ADG (Law and Order) Mukul Goel has been sent to Agra to work out requirement of force for the visit.

The IG said that an advance security liaison would be carried out tomorrow.

He said that efforts were being made to meet demand from the Agra administration regarding force.

"Wherever central force is required, correspondence has been done with Ministry of Home Affairs. The local administration has demanded 10 SPs, 12 ASPs, 24 DSPs, 10 company CPMF, 12 company PAC and one company of flood division," he said.

Ganesh said that ancillary units have also been informed to mobilise their resources.

"We have received a tentative programme from Ministry of External Affairs through Intelligence Bureau this evening," he said.

The IG said that the IB has shared detailed information regarding threat perception. UP government has authorised the state police to hire a helicopter to assist in air security in view of the likely visit of US president Barack Obama to Agra.

"The state government has authorised the police to hire a Pawanhans helicopter for the next 11 days to assist in the air security ", Ganesh had said.

"IG Meerut zone has been made the nodal officer to work out the route and sorties by the helicopter in view of the inputs with regard to the security", the IG had said.

The helicopter would start making sorties soon, he said, adding that an air support unit team is being developed.