Tamil Nadu Police Heightened Security After Bomb Threat at Tirunelveli Railway Station Ahead of Republic Day
Click to start listening
Synopsis
A bomb threat at Tirunelveli railway station prompted heightened security measures in Tamil Nadu as the state prepares for Republic Day celebrations. Police and bomb experts are conducting extensive searches while security is increased across key locations, including Tuticorin Airport, to ensure public safety amidst ongoing investigations.
Key Takeaways
- Bomb threat issued at Tirunelveli railway station.
- Search operations by local police and bomb disposal teams.
- Increased security protocols across Tamil Nadu.
- Tuticorin Airport also received a bomb threat via email.
- Strict measures in place for upcoming Republic Day celebrations.
Chennai, Jan 25 (NationPress) A bomb threat was reported at Tirunelveli railway station by unknown individuals on Saturday morning, as per Daily Thanthi.
In response, local law enforcement and bomb disposal teams have been conducting thorough searches at the railway station since the early hours.
The unidentified callers allegedly reached out to the Chennai Police Control Room from the Gopalasamudram area in Tirunelveli.
An inquiry to pinpoint the individual responsible for the threat is currently underway.
In anticipation of the upcoming Republic Day festivities, security protocols across significant sites in the nation have been intensified.
Authorities are performing extensive screenings to safeguard public welfare.
In a related incident, security measures at Tuticorin Airport have been heightened following a bomb threat received via email.
An airport official reported that once the threat was received, police were notified and comprehensive checks were carried out with the help of a bomb threat assessment team.
Additional security personnel have been deployed to guarantee the safety of both passengers and staff.
The email was considered vague as it lacked specific details such as a name, location, date, or time.
Sniffer dogs were introduced to assist in the security sweep, and passengers are undergoing thorough inspections.
To date, no suspicious items have been discovered. This marks the second bomb threat alert at the airport within a span of two days.
As the nation prepares for Republic Day celebrations on Sunday, the Greater Chennai Police have notably ramped up security measures in the city and its vicinity.
Strategic locations, including Marina Beach and the routes taken by the Governor from Raj Bhavan to the Marina, as well as the Chief Minister’s route from his residence on Chittaranjan Salai to the Marina, have been designated as “Red Zones.”
The use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), drones, or any other aerial objects has been prohibited in Chennai on January 25 and 26, except for government-sanctioned operations.
The Republic Day celebration is set to occur near the Labour Statue on Kamarajar Salai, Marina, Chennai.
Under existing orders, police have banned drones, remote-controlled microlight craft, and paragliding under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
The Coastal Security Group (CSG) of the Tamil Nadu Marine Police has also increased patrols in recent days.
Security has been heightened along the coastline and mid-sea following intelligence reports of potential smuggling activities involving arms, drugs, and other illicit items by sea.
Marine police are searching uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Mannar and inspecting fishing vessels operating in deep-sea and coastal regions.
Numerous police units have been dispatched for security arrangements across all district capitals of Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, from January 24.
Security agencies are taking every possible measure to ensure the seamless execution of this grand event.
Recent tensions between the Governor and the DMK government, with the Governor adopting controversial stances on Tamil Nadu’s administration, have raised alarms among intelligence officials.
aal/rad
