Delhi put under tight security ahead of 1-Day celebrations

An elaborate ground-to- air security apparatus has been put in place in the capital to pre-empt any terror strike, on the eve of Independence Day celebrations. Around the city thousands of Delhi police and paramilitary personnel were deployed, especially near the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the tricolor and address the nation. A country-wide alert asking the states to tighten security at sensitive locations and installations to thwart any attempt of terror strike has been already issued by the Union Home Ministry.
A senior police official stated that they have already deployed personnel in abundance and are not taking any chance. Around the Red Fort almost 40 CCTVs would be installed inorder to ensure the incident free celebrations while sharp shooters of the NSG will be deployed on the high-rises near the 17th century Mughal monument.
The arrangements at the Red Fort are constantly reviewed by the security agencies and have zeroed in on the 'safe houses' where the Prime Minister and other leaders should be taken to in case of a terrorist strike. As per stated by the senior police official, the localities around Red Fort have been sanitized and the informers have been deployed to keep a check on any movement of anti-national elements. He added that the specialized units like Quick Reaction Teams, SWAT and Vajra are being deployed.
Also the intense vigil would be also maintained on key installations like Parliament complex, international airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and Metro stations. An air defence mechanism would also be put in the place around the venue to thwart any terror attacks, besides patrolling of the skies by helicopters. The official reported that Delhi police is also intensifying checking at all the border points, adding that they may also deploy spotters from other states to identify miscreants. The operators of guest-houses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services have been instructed by the police inorder to keep a watch on their customers and report about suspicious people.
It was also reported by the official that, the telephone booth operators were instructed to keep separate registers of those making local, STD and ISD calls, while the owners of the guest-houses and the cyber cafes have been asked to install CCTVs.
He also added that the owners of the guest-houses and the hotels would also be asked not to allow their guests to use the hotel address for getting a mobile connection.  
 News By, SM

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