Security has been beefed up in New Delhi and neighbouring areas for the nation’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26, with intelligence agencies warning of possible terror attacks.
A total of 15,000 security personnel, snipers, sniffer dogs and bomb squads have been deployed by Delhi Police to ensure elaborate security and traffic arrangements for the Republic Day Parade, officials said. CCTV cameras will be placed on the parade route as part of the tight vigil.
“All security arrangements are in place. More than 150 companies (15,000 personnel) from paramilitary and other state forces will be deployed besides Delhi Police personnel. Another 1,500 traffic policemen will also be on the streets,” Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Satyender Garg said.
Ground-to-Air Security
News reports stated that a massive ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place for the parade. Snipers will be deployed at high-rise buildings while around 100 CCTVs will keep a tight vigil on people’s movement between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade.
Security personnel, accompanied by bomb squads and sniffer dogs, will be deployed at public places like railway stations, bus stands and important buildings and markets.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of National Security Guard will be deployed at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will keep a close watch along the parade route.
Patrolling in crowded market areas has been intensified and passengers are being thoroughly checked at Metro trains, railway stations and bus terminals. Security at the India Gandhi International Airport has also strengthened.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Deployed
A senior security official said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the Air Force will be deployed for surveillance besides the usual deployment of helicopters. “The UAVs will not only keep an eye on the parade route but entire Delhi,” the official said.
Meanwhile, In Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, security personnel are keeping a strict vigil, checking all vehicles as well as frisking people to prevent any untoward incident.
“Keeping in view the Republic Day, we have made necessary security arrangements in rural as well in urban areas particularly Poonch town and other places. We have laid ambush in several places for evenings and for security in day we have set-up barricades with the help of paramilitary forces,” said Javed Iqbal, Deputy Superintendent Operations, Police, Poonch.
In Assam, security arrangement has been tightened in and around Guwahati such as the Central Parade Ground where the official function including parade will be held.
“Since the Guwahati parade is the centre venue of state function, we have made elaborate security arrangements for Guwahati parade ground,” said G P Singh, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Central Western Range, Assam Police.
Personnel of Border Security Force (BSF) guarding the India-Bangladesh border have stepped up their vigil while the state police authorities of West Bengal have also taken all deterrent measures to avoid any untoward incident.
“We are taking all possible measures to keep the security intact. In fact, Darjeeling district is having border with Nepal and Bhutan. So SSB as well as BSF at the Bangladesh border have been briefed and they are also alert and as far as inside town is concerned we are also keeping strong vigil over the area,” said Debendra Prasad Singh, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling.
