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Tight security in Bombay during Vajpayee's stay

The Special Protection Group, in-charge of prime minister's security, has conducted a series of security drills with the cops from the local protection branch during the last week. It has taken over the security of the Breach Candy hospital in south Bombay where Vajpayee will be operated on Tuesday by New York-based orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chittaranjan Ranawat.

The entire hospital has been turned into a fortress with armed guards constantly on vigil. "The security is going to be tight," a senior police official supervising the security arrangements said. Top police officials, including Police Commissioner M N Singh, have personally visited the hospital to review the arrangements.

Singh interacted with officers of the SPG and Intelligence Bureau. SPG Joint Director Sanjeev Dayal is personally monitoring the security arrangements at the hospital as well as preparing for the prime minister's stay at Raj Bhavan, sources said in Bombay.

The prime minister is likely to be discharged from the hospital three to four days after the surgery and, thereafter, will be convalescing at the Raj Bhavan, in south Bombay for the next five days.

Stringent traffic regulations have also been made while the prime minister is admitted at the Breach Candy hospital. Some of the hawkers at the Bhulabhai Desai Road, where the hospital is situated, have been asked to leave till the prime minister is in the hospital. The local protection branch and the dog squad of the Bombay police visited several adjoining areas for security drills.

SPG commandos have been deployed in and around the hospital. The seventh floor of the hospital's new wing, where the prime minister will be operated upon, will be out of bounds for the common man, police sources said.

However, a hospital spokesperson added that it will be ensured that other patients do not face any inconvenience.

Apart from the SPG commandos and officers and men of the Bombay police, more than a 100 plain clothed policemen have been deployed in and around the hospital. They have already taken positions around the hospital and adjacent buildings.

Aerial surveillance has also been mounted in the metropolis during the prime minister's stay. A senior police official said, "It is perhaps for the first time in the history of the metropolis that the prime minister will be present for around ten days."

Coast Guard choppers are hovering over the commercial capital of the country maintaining a hawk-eyed vigil.

Coastal patrolling in this island city will also be stepped during the prime minister's stay. SPG officers have surveyed the coastline of the city and are constantly in touch with the deputy commissioner of police in-charge of protection of VVIPs.

Police and SPG commandos on board special commando boats will constantly be surveying the coastline. Fishing trawlers have been asked not to venture out into the western sea from Bombay.

A shamiyana has been erected outside the hospital for briefing mediapersons. Union Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan, who briefs mediapersons after Cabinet meetings at New Delhi, will be briefing newspersons regularly on Vajpayee's condition.

During the prime minister's stay, a formidable support system will be in place to ensure day-to-day functioning of the government. Among those who will be present in the city, apart from Mahajan, will be principal secretary to the prime minister Brajesh Mishra, Ashok Saikia, V Anandrajan, Ashok Tandon and Ranjan Bhattacharya, according to sources.

UNI

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