Security beefed up in Agartala for NEC plenary session

Agartala: Agartala has undergone a transformation in preparation for the 72nd plenary session of Northeast Council (NEC), while strengthening security measures. The two-day event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, will be chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah.

The meeting will host approximately 350 delegates, including governors and chief ministers from all seven NE states. DoNER minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and minister of state Dr Sukanta Majumder will participate to evaluate ongoing regional development initiatives and propose new projects.

A senior state administration official said, "Over 2,000 security personnel, including central paramilitary forces, have been deployed around meeting venues, Raj Bhawan, airport road, state guest house, and secretariat complex. Security enhanced in the airport, railway station, along the Indo-Bangladesh border, bus terminus and all other vital installations ahead of the meeting."

Reports indicate that a 20-member NEC delegation arrived in Agartala on Tuesday to supervise preparations. They conducted inspections at six locations, including Ujjayanta Palace, Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan, Pragna Bhawan, and Hotel Polo Tower, with security measures implemented since morning.

BJP has organised events for Shah on Dec 22, including a foundation-laying ceremony for the party office in Natun Bazar, Gomati district, followed by discussions with Bru settlers in Bruha Para (Haduklau Para) and a public gathering at Masurai Para in Dhalai district.

The session will include participation from NEC officials, home ministry, DoNER, finance ministry representatives, bank executives, ISRO chairman, and senior security officials. Minister of state Sukanta Majumder will lead a meeting with chief secretaries and central govt officials on Thursday, preceding the plenary session.

Shah's schedule includes addressing the National Cooperative Conference-2024 at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala on Sunday, followed by a BJP organisational meeting with state leaders and chief minister Manik Saha at the party headquarters.