New Delhi – Security in Burma 's former capital of Rangoon has been stepped up several notches with rumours of impending protests swirling around the city, sources said.

Hundreds of riot police and members of junta's puppet civil organization – Swan Arrshin – were seen taking up positions in various street junctions and popular places including usual protester's gathering points such as Sule Pagoda square, Shwe Dagon Shrine, Myaynikone, and Shwegonedine Street , sources said.

"Security personnel are swarming everywhere. There are about 100 policemen and other security officials in front of the Emmanuel Church in Sule Square . And there are also several of them on the eastern and southern gates of Shwe Dagon shrine," a local resident, who is monitoring the situation, told Mizzima over telephone.

The local said, there are also about 100 riot police and security officials at a Buddhist worship place – Damayone – near Burma 's main opposition party, the National League for Democracy head office in Bahan Township .

"They came in three 'Dyna' light trucks and are armed with batons. There are also several police vehicles and about 15 motorcycles. They blocked the road to Shwe Dagon and checked anyone passing by. Riot police are also seen in many of the street junctions of the city," the local added.

Burma 's popular '8.8.88' revolution began on August 8, 1988, when student-led protesters took to the streets and put an end to Burma 's one-party socialist government. Though three of Burma 's heads of state were removed one after another during months of protest, the military brutally crushed it, killing at least 3000 people and grabbed power.

Under the military junta, which has zero tolerance with dissidence, opposition activists annually commemorate the August 8 anniversary by protesting or by holding commemorative services.

A local resident in Myaynikone of San Chaung Township said, "I saw a police vehicle in front of Shwe Mann cinema and another one at Yoma bank carrying riot police with shields and batons as in the September protests."

On Thursday, eyewitnesses said, dozens of military trucks were seen patrolling various roads and streets including Rangoon-Pyay Road , Rangoon -Insein road, - roads which student protesters generally use.

In the suburbs of Rangoon , riot police and members of Swan Arrshin were seen patrolling since Thursday.

"They were patrolling since yesterday in places such as Hledan and Insein. There are about 30 police vehicles patrolling downtown. But this morning there is no more patrolling. They have positioned the vehicles at important junctions," said the local.

In Taungup town of Arakan state, authorities arrested at least 20 youths on Friday morning, for marching on the streets and protesting while commemorating  the 20th anniversary of the '8.8.88' uprising.