High security zone: As a measure to tighten security at the Legislative Assembly, the police have banned vehicles in the stretch near the Assembly. | Photo Credit: T_Singaravelou more-in The police have banned movement and parking of vehicles on the stretch near the Assembly on Victor Simonel Street as part of security arrangement. Based on inputs given by the Specialised Intelligence Gathering Machinery (Sigma) wing of the territorial police, the entry of vehicles from Circle De Pondicherry side and Health Department towards the Assembly has been banned. Besides, parking of vehicles, except those used by the Speaker, the Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, the PS to CM, and the Assembly Secretary will not be allowed inside the complex. Officials visiting the Assembly should be dropped and their cars parked outside. The entire stretch has been barricaded. Earlier, the stretch was like any other place in the town with vehicles, especially two-wheelers, parked even close at the entry and exit points of the Assembly. The haphazard parking near a vital installation, according to a Sigma officer, was a high risk factor from the security point of view. “We are not a high risk region. But it is better to be more cautious than acting after some untoward incident occurs. So, we have restricted movement and parking of vehicles in the area,” a senior Sigma officer told The Hindu. Not the first time The Sigma (Security and Intelligence) would soon convene a meeting of all concerned, including Assembly staff and elected representatives, to review the security arrangements. The agency would consider deploying trained personnel and more closed circuit television cameras near the Assembly, he said. In the past, an attempt was made was made to streamline entry of vehicles and people to the Assembly when the present Member of Parliament R. Radhakrishnan was the Speaker. The restrictions were enforced for a few days and given up gradually.

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