The Hindu : New Delhi News : Tight security arrangements

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Tight security arrangements

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 9. The Delhi police have made elaborate security arrangements for the Olympic Torch Relay here in the Capital on Thursday. As many as 45 companies of the force will be deployed along the route of the relay which will be lined by foreign delegates, diplomats, celebrities and senior Government functionaries.

A convoy of around 100 people, including the Athens Olympic Organising Committee would land here around 8 a.m. on Thursday, which would be followed by the plane carrying the Olympic Flame around 9 a.m. At the airport, the State Sports Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, and the Greek Ambassador would receive the Torch.

The delegates would then be escorted to Marriott Hotel, where several police personnel have already been deployed along with the hotel security guards. According to the Special Commissioner of Police, S.K. Kain, the first function, which would be attended by the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, and the Greek Ambassador, would be held at Qutab Minar around 1-30 p.m. after which the relay would start for National Stadium via Humayun Tomb, Red Fort and Rajpath.

The caravan would comprise 10 vehicles, escorted by three vehicles carrying security personnel. Four motorcycle escorts along with plainclothes police personnel and some others in tracksuits would surround the Olympic Flame bearers. It is learnt that the Olympics organisers would also have their own security staff to keep a watch over the proceedings. Arrangements for the movement of 22 celebrities from the world of Indian sports, music and films, who would lift the Olympic Flame during the 33-km journey to the National Stadium, have been made primarily by the sponsoring companies, Coca Cola and Samsung. Mr. Kain said the sponsoring companies, in coordination with the police, have planned the security for these celebrities.

At least 65 spots along the route have been earmarked where people, including school children, would gather to cheer the Olympic Flame caravan. Barricades would be erected at these places to restrict onlookers from breaching the security cordon. Also, there would heavy deployment of forces at places - Qutab Minar, Humayun Tomb, Red Fort and India Gate, -- where functions would be held during the relay.

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