900 police personnel to be deployed for TVK’s meeting in Vellore on February 23, says SP

Over 900 police will ensure security at TVK's February 23 meeting in Vellore, limiting attendees to 4,900 due to heat.

The district police will deploy more than 900 police personnel for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) administrators’ meeting that will be addressed by its founder and actor Vijay in Agaramcheri village near Pallikonda toll plaza, off the Chennai - Bengaluru Highway (NH 48), on February 23.

The Superintendent of Police N.U. Sivaraman told The Hindu that adequate security measures will be in place to avoid any untoward incidents. Apart from the local police, police personnel from surrounding districts - Ranipet, Tirupattur, and Tiruvannamalai -will be roped in for the event to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the accident-prone stretch. Mr. Vijay is expected to address the meeting around noon. ” Traffic restrictions especially for heavy vehicles in using service lanes of the stretch (NH 48) will be enforced to prevent traffic congestion ,” Mr. Sivaraman said.

Mr. Sivaraman inspected the venue on February 16 after the party district office bearers gave a letter to him, seeking police permission for the event. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for such an event will be in place only when the event attracts more than 5,000 visitors.

For the Vellore event, the police restricted the total number of participants to 4,900 persons due to hot weather. Also, as the venue is closer to the national highway, any large gathering could obstruct traffic flow on the busy route. 

Spread over 33 acres on Anaicut Main Road, the open plot can accommodate more than 25,000 persons to organise a public meeting that was initially planned by the party before the district police restricted the total number of participants to 4,900 persons. “The conditions set by Vellore police to hold the meeting will be fulfilled. As many as 30 doctors, 50 nurses, and adequate ambulances will be arranged at the meeting,” said R. Velmurugan, district secretary, TVK.

Police sources said that as many as 20 conditions have been set by the district police to allow the meeting on Monday. Some of them include erection of temporary pandals to accommodate visitors, seating arrangements, adequate drinking water facilities, and health help desks. These revised conditions were based on soaring temperatures in the region for the past few weeks and to ensure safety of visitors.