July 10: Keeping in mind security issues, Dispur administration is considering shifting the venue of the Independence day function from the historic Judges Field to the Nehru Stadium.

According to sources bureaucrats at the chief minister’s office and the home department officials will meet the district administration (metro) and the city police next week to chalk out the final plan.

“The meeting will discuss in details, the security arrangements at the Judges Field. The final decision on the venue will be taken only after a thorough assessment,” an official associated with the Judges Field security arrangements said.

He said though every possible measure has been taken to prevent any untoward incident from happening, yet, the government might decide to shift the venue to the Nehru Stadium to minimise the risk of a sabotage attempt.

The twin blasts at the Judges Field during the Republic Day parade has forced the government to think about relocating the venue to Nehru Stadium.

Ever since, the government had kept the ground under a close vigil, allowing only a few public gatherings on it. The government lifted the ban only when it found it convenient such as when the ruling Congress recently organised a public rally.

The administration on June 29 started digging up the Field to look for explosives. It has also constructed a permanent concrete rostrum for official functions.

The police carried out the digging operation after it secured permission from the home department.

An official said round-the-clock security arrangements have been made at the field. Floodlights have also been installed.

Deputy commissioner, Samir Kumar Sinha, refused to comment on the possibility of shifting the venue .

He, however, said the administration has chalked out plans to tighten security at the Judges Field. Some of the plans would be executed before 15 August.

Senior superintendent of police, P.Vijaya Krishna Ramisetti said the police has already submitted a “confidential” report to the home department.

According to reports, the Ulfa, which already had the programmable timer explosive device (PTED) and light dependant resistor (LDR), has now acquired anti-disturbance explosive device.

While PTED can be programmed to go off any time over a period of 194 days, the LDR explodes when exposed to light can, for instance, go off when torchlight is thrown on it.