Belagavi: Belagavi has been placed under an unprecedented security blanket with the district administration declaring a two-kilometre Red Zone and No-Fly Zone around key venues hosting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak. The restrictions come as RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat arrived in the city on Monday for an eight-day visit ahead of the organisation’s high-level annual meeting.
Dr Bhagwat landed at Sambra Airport on a special flight from Hyderabad on the evening of July 6 and was received by senior RSS functionaries, including Prant Pracharaks, Kshetra Pracharaks and other organisational leaders. Tight police security was deployed from the airport to Udyambag, with senior officers monitoring the movement of the RSS Sarsanghchalak.
The annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak, one of the RSS’s most important organisational meetings, will be held in Belagavi from July 10 to July 12. However, preparatory meetings involving RSS volunteers and office-bearers at different organisational levels began on July 6, prompting heightened security arrangements across the city.
In view of Bhagwat’s visit and the participation of senior RSS leaders from across the country, Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammed Roshan has declared a two-kilometre radius around the Foundry Cluster Guest House in Udyambag, Sant Meera School at Anagol and Jagannathrao Joshi Smarak Bhavan on Goods Shed Road as a Red Zone and No-Fly Zone from July 6 to July 14.
Under the prohibitory order, the operation of drones, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), remote-controlled flying devices and paragliders has been completely banned within the notified area. The restrictions have been imposed to eliminate any security threat during Bhagwat’s stay and the annual conclave.
Police have intensified surveillance around the three venues, while access to certain areas is being closely monitored. Security personnel have also been deployed along important roads leading to the meeting venues, and additional intelligence and anti-sabotage measures have been put in place.
Bhagwat is expected to stay in Belagavi until July 14. During his visit, he will participate in preparatory discussions beginning July 7 before attending the three-day organisational meeting.
According to RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar, the annual meeting will bring together the organisation’s top leadership from across the country. Participants include Prant Pracharaks, Sah Prant Pracharaks, Kshetra Pracharaks and Sah Kshetra Pracharaks representing all 11 organisational regions (Kshetras) and 46 provinces (Prants) of the RSS.
Besides these senior office-bearers, Akhil Bharatiya Sangathan Mantris from 32 RSS-inspired organisations are also expected to attend the meeting. The conclave is regarded as the highest-level annual organisational review after the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha.
The Belagavi meeting assumes significance as it follows the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha held at Samalkha in Haryana in March this year and comes after the successful completion of the Sangh Shiksha Vargas (RSS training camps) conducted across the country during April, May and June.
During the three-day deliberations, senior RSS leaders are expected to review the implementation of the organisation’s annual work plan at the shakha level and assess the expansion of shakhas undertaken as part of the RSS Centenary Year celebrations. Discussions will also focus on strengthening the organisation’s grassroots network and reviewing outreach programmes implemented over the past several months.
The agenda also includes an assessment of programmes conducted during the Centenary Year, planning for the remaining events leading up to Vijayadashami on October 20, and finalising Dr Mohan Bhagwat’s nationwide tour schedule for 2026-27.
Senior leaders are also expected to deliberate on the prevailing national situation and discuss a range of contemporary issues, including the national census and other matters of public importance.
Apart from Bhagwat, the meeting will be attended by RSS Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale, Sah Sarkaryavahs Dr Krishna Gopal, CR Mukunda, Arun Kumar, Ramdutt, Alok Kumar and Atul Limaye, besides heads of various national departments and members of the RSS national executive.
With thousands of RSS functionaries expected to converge on Belagavi over the coming days, authorities have appealed to the public to cooperate with security personnel and comply with the restrictions in the Red Zone and No-Fly Zone areas. Officials said the measures are purely precautionary and are aimed at ensuring smooth conduct of one of the RSS’s most significant annual organisational gatherings.
