Taj Hotel becomes security fortress ahead of Clinton visit

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The Taj Hotel in India's
national capital, where visiting US Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton will be staying, became a virtual fortress Saturday
with city police and security personnel from America carrying
out extensive searches at the five-star facility ahead of her
arrival.

Clinton, who is being provided the highest level of
security, will reach the capital Sunday morning on a two-day
visit during which she will hold a series of meetings with top
Indian leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh besides
attending several functions.

Around 2,000 personnel drawn from Delhi Police and the
elite National Security Guards (NSG) will be deployed at Taj
Palace, the venues and along the routes of her travel, a
senior official said.

The security team from the US, which has already
arrived in the city, has surveyed the floor in which Clinton
will be staying. The official said the entire floor has been
sanitised.

"The floors above and below the suite where Clinton
will be staying have also been kept vacant besides deploying
sharp shooters of NSG near the Taj Palace as well as on the
high-rises on the route of her travel," the official said.

The US intelligence officers are also in the city.

"All precautions have been taken. Clinton will be
given the highest level of security," the official said,
adding additional PCR vans and ambulances are also being
deployed near the hotel. PTI SJY
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