Kite flying ban till 11 am; 70,000 police officers, 500 CCTV cameras, 10,000 deployed in and around Red Fort
The National Capital ahead of Independence Day has been covered in a thick security blanket with ground to air surveillance. Thousands of Delhi police officials along with the paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure the Independence Day celebration is carried out smoothly. The historic Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation on the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday has been put under a heavy security cover, along with other critical areas in the national capital.
The attack on JNU student leader Umar Khalid in the high–security Lutyen's zone on Monday raised several eyebrows. Several people raised concerns over the security arrangements of the Delhi Police as a man attacked him barely 500-metre away from the Parliament.
For the first time the women officers of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will be deployed at the venue. Around 70,000 police officers, 500 CCTV cameras and around 10,000 police officers deployed only in and around the Red Fort. At the Red Fort, a special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon, while anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles, senior police officials said.
Last year, a kite had fallen at the bottom of the podium when PM Modi was giving his speech. To ensure no such incident occurs, kite-catchers have been deployed at the Red Fort. Kite flying is banned until 11am.
The Delhi police had earlier prohibited aerial activities, include paragliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city. Delhi Police personnel have been specifically asked to keep an eye on the sky to ensure that no stray kites are seen in the areas around the Red Fort.
Police have carried out anti-sabotage checks in the area and visited hotels in the vicinity in search of suspicious elements, officials said, adding that a security audit of the residents, including tenants, has been completed.
Security along the route to be taken by the Prime Minister's cavalcade, from his official residence to the Red Fort, will be monitored with the help of hundreds of CCTV cameras. Special "spotters" of Delhi Police and the paramilitary will keep an eye on parking areas. Sniffer dogs will also be part of the extensive security deployment.
SAFETY MEASURES
- For the first time, the women officers of the Delhi Police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit will be deployed at the venue.
- Special team of NSG snipers and commandos will form the inner layer of the security cordon
- Anti-aircraft guns have been deployed to thwart any aerial intrusion by objects like drones and projectiles
- Paragliding, flying UAVs and hot air balloons, across the city.
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