NEW DELHI: Journalists have been banned from the Writers' Building, the seat of power in West Bengal, while government ministers have been banished to the service entrance as the Indian state prepares for the visit of US secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Unprecedented security measures have been imposed in Kolkata, city for Clinton's visit during which she will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and discuss with her the Teesta Accord, a water sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh which fell flat due Banerjee's objections. According to a senior official of the Kolkata police, the security measures adopted in the city were something never seen before. US security agencies are monitoring the arrangements. Even the metal detectors at Writers' Building will be manned by US security personnel during the visit. A group of 13 four-level buildings make up the historic Writers' Building and is the Secretariat of West Bengal's provincial government. A team of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation has been swarming the areas for the last three days, giving the local police inputs to sanitize the area for the visit of Clinton, among the world's most powerful leader. The FBI officials have also asked for doubling the illumination and removal of all electronic equipment from the hall which will host the meeting between Clinton and Banerjee at Writers' Building. During her Kolkata visit, Clinton is also expected to pay a courtesy call at the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa.
