Click to play videoGuwahati (Assam): The 33rd National Games starts on Friday with Congress President Sonia Gandhi inaugurating it.
And even after United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) withdrew its boycott call, the authorities are not taking a chance.
Unprecedented security has been deployed ahead of the games and its significance is not lost on those who have come here to participate from all across the country.
"No I don't think that there is any risk. The security here is very tight,” says coach, Sarika Gupta.
Gupta’s opinion is not an isolated one, most sportspersons visiting Assam agree that when it comes to their personal security, things can’t get better.
"There was an ULFA threat earlier but I don't think that affects us. The security arrangements are very good,” says Digen Sharma of Madhya Pradesh team.
Clearly, security agencies are in no mood to take chances. And this reflects in the scale of arrangements that include:
- 20 additional battalions of paramilitary forces to stay on guard during the games.
- Extra security for sportspersons right from the Bengal-Assam border.
- Special computerised security passes for sportspersons, officials and media.
- Players to be allowed to move only in groups under heavy security cover.
- Army to form an outer security ring all over Guwahati city.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is visibly relieved, more so after the banned ULFA decided to call off the games boycott that has seemingly paved way for violence free games.
“We welcome ULFA's withdrawal of boycott of the national games,” Gogoi says.
(With inputs from Nilanjana Bose)
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