Cops weather protest bids, emerge with flying colours

As security was the most important factor, city police swung into action a month before the likely visit of the leaders were intimated to them. Senior officers including the DGP JK Tripathy and city police commissioner AK Viswanathan, along with senior officials from other departments visited the airport, leaders’ places of stay and possible routes of travel to study the kind of measures and arrangements that needed to be taken. It further intensified in the last two weeks. 

The city police took care of the security measures up to Akkarai where their jurisdiction ends, and Kancheepuram police took over the baton from there. The Commissioner conducted at least 10 meetings with his officers to plan everything to a tee. “It helped to instil the importance of the occasion in the minds of all the police personnel involved. The officials who have earlier worked in the city and those who have the experience in handling such a major occasion were roped in,” said an officer. 

From which police officers should be posted where to their roles, it all were clearly explained to each officer several times so that they should be clear about their responsibilities. Anti-sabotage and possible anti-China protest by Tibetans were the major cause of concern for city police.

As there were instances of anti-China protests held during the Chinese dignitaries’ visit in other countries, city police wanted to ensure that the same would not happen in the city. “We held talks with Tibetan organisations in the city and most of them cooperated with us. We devised plans as to how to curtail those who wanted to do things deliberately,” said officer. Police had checkposts at every arrival points in the city such as airport, CMBT and railway stations. 

Another officer said that 25 teams were formed only to check hotels and resorts and 75 teams to scan every building, be it a house and or an office, on the route from Chennai airport to Muttukadu. The police kept the details of the efforts confidential. 

Around 5,000 police personnel were deployed for security duty, and the logistics for them was also taken care of, said the officer. “It was tough, but Police department has done to the best of their ability and the response has been positive. No grievance was raised by the visiting delegates, which means their expectations have been fulfilled,” said the officers.