New Delhi: A multi-layer security blanket has been thrown around the capital with thousands of armed personnel set to keep a tight vigil to thwart any possible terror strike or any untoward incident during the 65th Republic Day celebrations on Sunday.
SWAT teams of Delhi Police, 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 Republic Day parade route.
More than 25,000 personnel of the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces will keep a tight vigil from ground to air during the parade, which will showcase India`s military might and cultural diversity.
Delhi Police has put up posters of wanted terrorists of major terror and militant organisations at public places in the city so that they can be identified by the people and nabbed if they try to enter Delhi.
During the parade, spotters and snipers will be positioned on high-rise buildings along the 8-km-long route for Republic Day parade from Raisina Hills to Red Fort.
Security agencies are on high alert and leaving no stone unturned to thwart any possible attack.
"More than 125 buildings around Rajpath will be sealed by Delhi Police on January 25. Subsequently, rooftop surveillance will be conducted to keep subversive activities at bay," Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Mukesh Kumar Meena said.
Security personnel have identified vulnerable spots like crowded markets, railway stations, bus stands and other high-value establishments and efforts have been made to secure them. Traffic police will also deploy around 1,500 personnel to manage route diversions during the parade.
Patrolling in public places has been intensified and checking and frisking in metro, railway stations and bus terminals tightened.
A central monitoring centre has also been established where CCTV footage from around 160 CCTV cameras installed on the stretch will be relayed live and top officials will constantly review the security detail in real time. Those on ground will also keep them abreast about the situation.
The entire stretch will be sanitised several times manually with metal detectors and sniffer dogs.
To keep a tight vigil in the New Delhi and central Delhi area, police will deploy more than 5000 personnel along with motorbike and PCR van patrols.
Barricades and pickets have already been erected on all roads leading to Rajpath in order to control vehicular movement.
"The New Delhi area has been further divided into zones to restrict vehicular movement on Sunday with police personnel letting in only labelled vehicles and pass-holders in area around Rajpath," Meena said.
The Delhi Police has also asked parade-watchers to pay heed to instructions and not bring any prohibited items to avoid security hassles.
"For parade watchers, the area around Rajpath has been divided into several enclosures. Different enclosures have different passes so we appeal to public to go through instructions and sign boards to avoid chaos," he said.
As part of security arrangements, metro train services will also be partially curtailed on January 26 while all metro station parking lots will remain closed from 2 PM on January 25 to 2 PM the next day.
A multi-layer security ring has already been put in place at Rajpath, where President Pranab Mukherjee will unfurl the tricolour and take the salute of marching contingents. Security at the IGI airport has also been strengthened in coordination with the CISF.
Police said a tight vigil will also be kept in coordination with police forces of neighbouring states at all border checkpoints and barricades will be set up to check vehicles entering the city.
