Ahmedabad Police briefing on August 25 Patel rally

Ahmedabad

The Patidar Anamat Aandolan Samiti (PAAS) has not yet sought any official permission for its much hyped pro-reservation Kranti rally to be held in Ahmedabad on August 25 in which they have claimed to gather over 25 lakh people as a show of strength to press their demand of inclusion in the other backward classes (OBC) category.

Addressing a press conference in the police head quarters conference hall here today Joint Commissioner of Police Vikas Sahai said, ‘So far no permission for any rally by the organisation has been sought. They have only been granted permission to hold a public meeting and use loudspeakers in the GMDC ground. Elaborate arrangements are being made in the wake of the meeting. If in the coming time the permission for such a rally is sought we would consider accordingly.’

The JCP also said that there was no specific intelligence input of any terrorist incident for the day but several precautionary measures including thorough search operation for the hotels, railway station and airport and deployment of forces at sensitive places and crowded areas like the allotted parking lots and in and around the main venue were being taken as large crowd was supposed to gather in the city which has seen many terror incidents in the past.

The police was taking a two pronged approach. One regarding the traffic and second to avert any possible terror strike, he said adding that four main routes around the GMDC ground; Shivranjani crossing to AEC (132 ft ring road), Nehrunagar circle to Darpan circle, Vijay crossing to Drive in road in Thaltej and Nehrunagar to Iskcon crossing would be declared no vehicle zone for the day since five in the morning.

‘The routes would remain no vehicle zone till the completion of the meeting. Important services like hospitals and educational institutions in the area would be left out of the ban. The organisation has sought permission for parking around Vallabhsadan near riverfront and the same has been granted but we have also marked seven other parking lots for vehicles coming from various districts for the convenience,’ Mr. Sahay said.

Taking about the preparedness for any possible terror incident, he said that the anti terrorist squad (ATS) and the crime branch of the city police were working in tandem. ‘We have made elaborate arrangements to meet any eventuality. We are also keeping a watch over social media to scuttle the rumours. I also appeal the people not to blindly believe any sensitive thing shared through whatsapp, tweeter and facebook and verify it from the police control room that works 24×7. We are also in touch with the patel community leaders and the services of their volunteers would also be taken. The UAV Netra would be used for aerial monitoring along with mobile command control vehicle Prahari. People are also advised to inform us if they see any suspected object anywhere in the city, ‘he said.

He said that the commissioner of police Mr. Shivanand Jha would share more details about the security arrangements tomorrow.

– DeshGujarat