Nationwide security blanket ahead of Independence Day

New Delhi: A tight security blanket was thrown across the country on the eve of Independence Day with an elaborate ground-to-air apparatus put in place in the national capital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the tricolour on Saturday.

Over 40,000 security personnel have been deployed across Delhi to keep a hawk-eyed vigil against any possible terror strike. More than 12,000 of these personnel, drawn from paramilitary forces and Delhi Police, have been deployed in high security areas, especially in and around the Red Fort from where Modi will address the nation.

The Union Home Ministry has issued an advisory to states and union territories especially in the backdrop of recent terror strikes in Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in Jammu.

It warned that Pakistan-based terrorist groups and their Indian affiliates like Indian Mujahideen and members of ex-SIMI may possibly target places like Lotus Temple, malls in Noida, Metro stations, BJP offices and political personalities.

Security has also been beefed up in the northeastern states, particularly in Assam where four IEDs have been recovered in Kokrajhar and Nagaon districts since last night.

A Kamtapur Liberation Organisation militant planting an explosive device on the railway track between Kokrajhar and Guwahati railway stations was also killed in a shootout.

Security in Jammu and Kashmir, areas sharing porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh have also been beefed up with forces maintaining "strict access control and anti- sabotage checks" besides intensify patrolling and keeping strict vigil.