Capital put under tight security ahead of I-Day

To pre-empt any terrorist attack ahead of the 62nd Independence Day celebrations, the national capital has been put under tight security with hundreds of police personnel being fanned out across the city and carrying out extensive checks.

To pre-empt any terrorist attack ahead of the 62nd Independence Day celebrations, the national capital has been put under tight security with hundreds of police personnel being fanned out across the city and carrying out extensive checks.

Personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces have already been deployed around the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address the nation for the fifth successive year on the occasion of the Independence Day.

Snipers from the National Security Guards (NSG) will keep a watch from high-rises around the 17th century Mughal monument when the Prime Minister addresses the country from its ramparts.

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A senior Delhi Police official said the personnel were constantly reviewing and updating security arrangements at the Red Fort and the nearby Walled City area.

A ground-to-air security apparatus will be put in place for the Independence Day celebrations besides making the 17th century Red Fort area a no-fly zone.

The other prominent buildings and areas under the vigil of security establishment will be Parliament, the international airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and metro stations.

“We are keeping a tight vigil. We are leaving nothing to chance in the backdrop of serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. But so far, there is no specific inputs about any threats to the capital,” the official said.

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The co-ordination level meetings of Delhi Police with its neighbouring states were also held to ensure strict vigil against suspected militants and to prevent their entry into the capital.

“Checking at all the borders has been intensified and spotters from other states have been deployed to identify miscreants,” the official said.

The Delhi Police have already asked operators of guest houses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on their customers and report on suspicious people.

Police have issued instructions to the operators to keep a register of their customers and not to allow them use their facilities without proper identification.

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While owners of guest houses and cyber cafes were asked to install CCTVs, telephone booth operators were instructed to keep a separate register of those making local, STD and ISD calls, a senior police official said.

Owners of guest houses and hotels were also asked not to allow their guests to use hotel address for getting a mobile connection, the official said, adding that they were specifically asked to install CCTVs at the entrance.

The city police are also installing 34 CCTVs in crowded areas from August 10 to 15, the official said adding that tenders were floated to hire the equipment.

Police have already started deploying its personnel across the city while stepping up checking at the borders while about 3,000 paramilitary personnel are expected to join them in the coming days.