Latest news with #SpecialProtectionGroup
NDTV
7 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
PM Modi In Sikkim Today To Celebrate 50th Anniversary Of Statehood
Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Sikkim today to participate in celebrations marking 50 years of the state's statehood. PM Modi will arrive in Gangtok at 9:45 a.m. at Libing Helipad in Gangtok district. He will attend the Sikkim@50 program from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Paljor Stadium. The Sikkim government has planned a year-long series of activities under the theme "Sunaulo, Samriddha, and Samarth Sikkim," celebrating the state's cultural richness, traditions, natural splendor, and history. The prime minister will lay foundation stones and inaugurate several development projects, including a 500-bed district hospital worth over ₹750 crore in Namchi district, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok district. He will also release a commemorative coin, souvenir coin, and stamp for the 50th anniversary of statehood. Enhanced security measures have been implemented for the prime minister's visit. The prime minister will also meet BJP karyakartas in the state. "At around 11 AM tomorrow, 29th May, I look forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Sikkim to participate in a programme to mark Sikkim@50. India is very proud of the contribution of Sikkim towards national progress. The unique culture of Sikkim is also widely admired," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on social media platform X. At around 11 AM tomorrow, 29th May, I look forward to being among my sisters and brothers of Sikkim to participate in a programme to mark Sikkim@50. India is very proud of the contribution of Sikkim towards national progress. The unique culture of Sikkim is also widely admired. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2025 Extensive security arrangements have been made in Sikkim's capital, Gangtok, for the visit, with strict protocols implemented by local authorities and the Special Protection Group (SPG). According to SSP Gangtok Tenzing Loden Lepcha, the event venue is divided into four seating zones: the hill gallery with a capacity of 15,000, northern and western galleries, and a section for special invitees. Police personnel are stationed across the venue to ensure orderly movement and emergency preparedness. A high-security zone has been established around the prime minister's dais, where mobile phones are prohibited. Over 400 police personnel are deployed across seven surveillance areas in buildings overlooking the venue, each led by a senior officer to monitor every vantage point during the prime minister's one-hour address. SSP Lepcha emphasized that all security measures have been thoroughly planned, reflecting the significance of the visit as Sikkim celebrates 50 years of statehood.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Words of war: Nuclear football and myth of black SPG briefcase
It's a sight that sparks a lot of speculation—the black briefcase carried by Special Protection Group (SPG) officers guarding India's Prime Minister. Some claim it holds India's nuclear launch codes, a mobile command system that would allow the PM to initiate a nuclear strike from virtually the truth is a bit less dramatic—and still pretty briefcase isn't a nuclear trigger. It's actually a folding ballistic shield, a critical piece of portable defence equipment. When unstrapped and deployed, it unfolds into a full-length, bulletproof barrier designed to protect the Prime Minister in the event of a close-range attack. Used by elite close protection teams like the SPG, the shield provides an immediate protective wall if gunfire breaks out, helping bodyguards to respond and evacuate the WHERE DID THE NUCLEAR BRIEFCASE MYTH COME FROM? The idea likely originates from the United States, where the President is always accompanied by a military aide carrying a large black case known as the Presidential Emergency Satchel, more popularly called the nuclear football. This highly classified device is believed to contain the means for the US President to communicate with military leadership and authorize a nuclear launch in a India's Prime Minister undoubtedly has secure protocols for contacting the country's nuclear command, the SPG's black briefcase is not part of that reality, it's not a trigger—it's a shield.
Hans India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Officials told to speed up arrangements for PM's visit
Vijayawada: State Nodal Officer for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to capital Amaravati G Veerapandian has urged the officials to speed up the arrangements for the PM's visit on May 2. The PM will relaunch the capital construction works worth Rs 1 lakh core during his visit to Amaravati. Veerapandian on Saturday conducted a review meeting with the officials near AP secretariat in Amaravati and discussed the progress of the works for the public meeting and ground-breaking ceremony at the capital Amaravati. He said the PM will arrive at Vijayawada airport at Gannavaram at 3 pm and later reach the capital by helicopter. He will participate in the ground-breaking ceremony for the capital works along with CM N Chandrababu Naidu and other ministers. PM Modi will leave Gannavaram airport by 5 p.m. The Nodal Officer informed that the PM will take part in the 1.40 km road show and eight routes were arranged for the public to attend the public meeting near the AP secretariat. He asked the officials to speed up arrangements to complete by April 28. He stated that Special Protection Group (SPG) rehearsal will be held on April 30. Additional DGP Madhusudhan Reddy said more than 100 VVIPs and more than 5,000 VIPs will attend the public meeting. He said parking facility will be arranged for the vehicles of the VVIPs and VIPS. Guntur district Collector S Nagalakshmi asked the officials to give the names of the officials and staff attending the duty passes. Guntur range IG S Tripathi and officers from the police, revenue and other departments attended the review meeting near the AP secretariat.
