An impregnable ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place in the city, especially near Red Fort where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unfurled the tri-colour and addressed the nation for the sixth consecutive time.
Thousands of heavily-armed security personnel today kept guard of the national capital on Independence Day, roaming streets and checking vehicles to pre-empt any terrorist strike during the celebrations.
An impregnable ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place in the city, especially near Red Fort where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh unfurled the tri-colour and addressed the nation for the sixth consecutive time.
Though there was no specific intelligence input about a possible terror strike, officials said security agencies left no stone unturned to ensure an incident-free Independence Day. An air defence mechanism was put in place around the 17th century Mughal monument where a host of dignitaries, including ministers, top military leadership and foreign diplomats, listened to the Prime Minister's address.
A no-fly zone was declared around the Red Fort during the function. Fourty CCTVs were installed in and around the Red Fort to ensure incident-free function, while sharpshooters of the NSG deployed on high-rises near the Mughal monument.
Areas around the Red Fort were sanitised and informers deployed to keep a check on any movement of anti-national elements. Specialised units like Quick Reaction Teams, Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) and Vajra (of the RAF) were also deployed.Besides the Red Fort, intense vigil was also maintained on key installations like Parliament complex, international airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals and metro stations.
Earlier, security agencies had reviewed the arrangements at the Red Fort and zeroed in on 'safety houses' to where the Prime Minister and other leaders should be taken to in case of a terrorist strike.
Delhi Police has also intensified checking at all border points. Goods vehicles were not allowed to enter Delhi from midnight of August 14-15 for 11 hours. Police had also asked operators of guest houses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on their customers and report about suspicious people.
Instructions were issued to them to keep a register of their customers and not allow use their facilities without proper identification. While owners of guest houses and cyber cafes were asked to install CCTVs, telephone booth operators will be instructed to keep a separate register of those making local, STD and ISD calls, they said.
Owners of guest houses and hotels have been told not to allow their guests use hotel address for getting a mobile connection.
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