PM visits Assam, ULFA shuts it down

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attendinding the inaugural function of
a new state-of-the-art facility of  Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute .

GUWAHATI, April 20 (agencies): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday arrived in Guwahati for a day-long visit amid tight security arrangements, in spite of a bandh called by the United Liberation Front of Asom.

Dr Singh was received at the airport by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Governor J B Patnaik. He was then taken to the Nehru Stadium in the heart of the city by an M-18 Chopper of the Air Force.

The PM then visited Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute at Birubari area in the city to inaugurate a new state-of-the-art facility for cancer patients. The CM accompanied Dr Singh during his visit to the cancer institute, but the media was kept away due to security reasons.

Minister for Development of North-Eastern Region and the Chairman of the North Eastern Council Pawan Singh Ghatowar welcomed Dr Singh at the B Borooah Cancer Institute.

Police and paramilitary forces, under the supervision of the Special Protection Group which is in charge of the PM's security, have made elaborate security arrangements in the city for the PM's visit.

The routes on which Dr Singh's convoy will travel have been made out of bounds for common people. The entire Nehru Stadium complex has been fortified since the last few days.