The East Khasi Hills district police has stepped up security arrangements across Shillong ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations and the proposed relocation of hawkers from the Laitumukhrah area on August 17, with additional forces deployed at vulnerable locations, tactical teams placed on standby and drones set to be used for surveillance during major events. Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said the district police has made elaborate arrangements to ensure that the Independence Day celebrations, the hawker relocation exercise and other scheduled public programmes pass off peacefully and without incident.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma will unfurl the national flag at the official Independence Day function at Polo in Shillong, while separate programmes will be held in the Sohra and Pynursla subdivisions. The security plan also covers the August 17 exercise for relocating hawkers from Laitumukhrah, besides protests, eviction drives and rallies scheduled in the district. Syiem said the police has identified vulnerable locations and deployed personnel, including additional forces requisitioned from other districts, as part of a round-the-clock security arrangement.
“The district police of East Khasi Hills has made an elaborate regions for the 80th Independence Day celebrations. Chief Minister will unfurl the tricolour at Polo Shillong at the official function , two sub division Sohra and Pynursla also will have separate functions,” Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said.
With regard to the security arrangements, Syiem said deployments have been made at several locations and all vulnerable areas have been covered. He said the district police was maintaining a state of alert, with tactical as well as regular teams positioned to respond to any eventuality.
“With regard to security arrangements, East Khasi Hills, Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said deployment have been made in several places. All vulnerable places have been covered, the district police is in a state of alert. We will ensure that this will be incident free independence day. Tactical teams and regular teams are all in place,” the SP said.
Additional forces have also been brought in from other districts and deployed at different locations on a 24×7 basis, further strengthening the security grid across Shillong.
“Yes, Additional forces have come from the Districts, and they have been deployed in various places 24×7. Several companies are here,” he said.
On the August 17 arrangements for the relocation of hawkers from Laitumukhrah, Syiem said the police would endeavour to ensure that protests, eviction drives and rallies remain peaceful and incident-free. He said permissions had been sought for the programmes, conditions had been laid down and adequate security arrangements would be made for all such events.
“we will endeavour to ensure that, all these protest, eviction drives, rallies will be incident free. They will be peaceful, for these programme permission has been sought for, conditions have been laid and we will elaborate and adequate security arrangements for all these events,” he added.
The district police will also deploy drones during major events to strengthen surveillance and monitor activities from the air. Syiem said drones from the district would be deployed during mega events as an additional security measure.
“We use drone for every mega event, drone from the district will be put in place. They will be used for surveillance,” the District Police chief said.
Shillong police steps up security for Independence Day, August 17 hawker relocation; drones to monitor major events
