Around 140 first-time elected MLAs of the state may experience the continuous buzzing sounds of choppers doing the rounds in the skies of the Visakha agency during their three-day visit to the red-flag zone from January 9, as police has reportedly decided to conduct continuous combing in forest areas with helicopters for tight security measures for the elected representatives.
According to police sources, three to four choppers will be in the skies at the training programme areas in the Agency besides regular combing.
Following an intelligence report that Maoists are planning a major attack during the MLAs’ programme, the police department has deployed nearly 5,000 security forces, including 100 dog squads, from several parts of the neighbouring states, sources said.
The deputy inspector general for Visakha region, Ms Soumya Mis-hra, earlier held a review meeting with police staff on security arrangements at Araku Valley and instructed them to go by the law.
The DIG also told the staff not to allow any person without valid permits to the MLAs’ camp for any kind of representation or agitation. According to information reaching here, the Speaker, Mr N. Manohar, is also joining the programme along with 15 ministers in addition to 72 Congress, 42 Telugu Desam, 15 Praja Rajyam, 7 TRS and 3 CPI MLAs.
According to the programme schedule, the MLAs and ministers will first assemble at the circuit guest house here on Monday morning and then proceed to Paderu by luxury coaches with a convoy of 50 police vehicles besides a special road party and pilot vehicles.
The MLAs will also have darshan of Modakon-damma near Paderu town. They will also visit coffee gardens at Paderu following an interaction with tribals before proceeding towards Araku, a tourist spot in the state.
Orientation classes for MLAs on tribal life, forest produce and government schemes will be taken at the end of the programme on January 12, sources added.
