Security ramped up across Northeast ahead of Independence Day

GUWAHATI: With intelligence agencies warning of strikes by militant outfits ahead of Independence day celebrations, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has ramped up security at railway stations and other vital installations.

Anti-talks ULFA and the Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella body of Manipur-based militant groups, have jointly called for a boycott of Independence Day celebrations and a general strike across the region on August 15.

Pallab Bhattacharyya, Special Director General of Police (Special branch) told ET, “Security of vital installations has been reviewed. Around-the-clock monitoring is done. We are maintaining close vigil in the interstate and international borders.”


Security at the Guwahati railway station has been reviewed and beefed up. Guwahati is the biggest railway station of the Northeast with a footfall of 40000 people every day, and more than 30 pairs of trains move through this station daily.

Pranav Jyoti Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer, NFR said that a quick reaction team comprising 13 fully armed Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) jawans along with 26 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel under one officer has been on shift duty at the station. Around 30 Government Railway police (GRP) personnel along with 10 CRPF jawans are also helping in maintaining security at the station in shifts.

He added that area domination by posting additional manpower in the main concourse area, main entrance, Paltan Bazar gate, reservation halls, foot overbridge, and platforms to ensure effective access control.

“Sniffer dogs have been deployed in three shifts to perform anti sabotage checks. Random frisking of passengers with the help of hand metal detectors is being carried out. Round the clock monitoring by CCTV of all vulnerable areas is also being done.”

He added that instructions have been issued to concerned departments to frequently check the dustbins, cloak rooms, parcels, parking area etc. “Interactive sessions with the coolies, vendors, taxi/auto rickshaw drivers have been organised to brief them to keep watch over suspicious persons and articles”.