Security beefs up in Mizoram ahead of PM’s visit on Saturday

Security has been beefed up across Mizoram in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit  to the northeastern state, a senior police officer said. Modi will visit Mizoram on Saturday to inaugurate the new Bairabi-Sairang broad gauge railway line, which  will link Aizawl to the rest of the country, officials said. He will also flag off the first Rajdhani train service between Aizawl and Delhi and two more train services between Aizawl and Kolkata, and Aizawl and Guwahati, they said. Mizoram Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) said that all police units across the  state have been alerted and elaborate security arrangements were made in the state capital Aizawl.

Additionally, two companies each of Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will also be deployed in Aizawl apart from the state police, he said. He said that strict vigilance is being maintained in the areas where the Prime Minister’s entourage will move. Meanwhile, Aizawl senior  traffic Senior Superintendent (SP) Ruatsanga Ralte notified traffic regulation as part of the security arrangement. “No vehicles should be parked and no material or stuff be placed along the stretch of Thuampui to Venghlui area via Ramhlun and Chaltlang, and along the road from Lengpui airport to Edenthar in Aizawl on Saturday between 6 am and 1 pm, which can obstruct movement of the PM’s escort,” the notification said. It said that no vehicles will be allowed to ply on the road from Falkland junction near Thuampui to Sikulpuikawn junction in the southern part of Aizawl via Ramhlun and Chaltlang between 8:30 am and 1 pm on Saturday.

Vehicles should also not ply on the road between Bawngkawn junction and Thuampui junction via helipad between 6 am and 1 pm on Saturday and all heavy vehicles, medium vehicles and mini trucks should not enter Aizawl from 7 pm on Friday till 7 pm on Saturday, it said. Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) also told residents to close all roadside shops, private offices and street vending along Thuampui-Lammual road where the PM’s entourage will pass till he leaves the state on Saturday. The Prime Minister is expected to arrive at Lengpui airport, about 37 km from Aizawl,  at around 9 am.