Security beefed up in Tripura for Republic Day

Security has been beefed up in Tripura as the union home ministry has directed the north-eastern states to maintain strict vigil in the run-up to the Republic Day and foil any attempt by separatist outfits to foment trouble.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is guarding the national highways as well as sensitive interior pockets while patrolling on the border areas has been intensified.

“In view of the report that some groups might try to disturb the Republic Day celebration all security forces including CRPF, civil police and other agencies have intensified patrolling and frisking,” said CRPF DIG Balaram Sil.

Special vigil are being maintained in congested markets, bus terminus, rail stations and airports with sniffer dogs and bomb squads pressed into service for regular checks. Number of police in civvies has also been increased.

“This search is specially conducted for the peaceful celebration of Republic Day as there is an alert going on. We are searching for any type of explosive,” said Dipak Chakraborty, Inspector of Bomb Squad of Tripura Police.

The elite Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and Assam Rifles (AR) have been kept as the second line of defence and are engaged in special counter insurgency operation particularly in the remote and hilly areas.

Tripura shares some 856 km border with Bangladesh where BSF is continuing special day-and-night operation to stop any type of infiltration.

Several separatist outfits including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have called for a 24-hour general strike from 25 January midnight to boycott the Republic Day celebrations.