Heightened security in capital ahead of I-Day celebrations

New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI) An impregnable ground-to-air
security apparatus will be put in place in the Indian capital
in the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations, in
a bid to preempt any terror strike.
Thousands of personnel of Delhi Police and paramilitary
will be deployed in and around the city, especially near Red
Fort from where Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will
unfurl the tricolour and address the nation.
"We are deploying personnel in abundance. We are not
taking any chance," a senior police official said.
The national celebrations come a month after terrorists
struck in Mumbai killing over 20 people.
The Delhi Police and its counterparts in neighbouring
states have already reviewed the security scenario in the
National Capital Region.
Police officers of the neighbouring districts were
advised to take effective anti-terrorist measures including
launching of intensive drives for verification of tenants,
servants, guest houses, second hand scooter and car dealers,
cyber cafe users, cycle sellers, contract labourers and shops
selling chemicals.
Over 30 CCTVs will be installed in and around the Red
Fort, while sharpshooters of the National Security Guard (NSG)
will be deployed on the high-rises near the 17th century
Mughal monument.
Security agencies are constantly reviewing arrangements
at the Red Fort and are in the process of zeroing in on the
'safety houses' where the Prime Minister and other leaders
should be taken to in case of a terrorist strike.
The localities around Red Fort have been sanitised and
informers have been deployed to keep a check on any movement
of anti-national elements. Specialised units like Quick
Reaction Teams, SWAT and Vajra are being deployed.
An intense vigil will also be maintained on key
installations like Parliament complex, international airport,
railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and metro
stations, a senior police official said.
Besides patrolling of the skies by helicopters, an air
defence mechanism will also be put in place around the venue
to thwart any terror attacks.
The Delhi Police is also intensifying checking at all
the border points, the official said, adding, they may also
deploy spotters from other states to identify miscreants.
Police have also asked operators of guest houses, cyber
cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on
their customers and report about any suspicious person.
Instructions will be issued to the operators to keep a
register of their customers and not to allow them to use their
facilities without proper identification.
While owners of guest houses and cyber cafes have been
asked to install CCTVs, telephone booth operators were
instructed to keep a separate register of those making local,
STD and ISD calls, the official said.
Owners of guest houses and hotels will also be asked
not to allow their guests to use hotel address for getting a
mobile connection, the official said. PTI SJY
SSB