The Hindu : Front Page : Unprecedented security in Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 13, 2006

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Unprecedented security in Delhi

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: With "credible intelligence inputs" indicating that terrorist outfits might try to disrupt the peace during Independence Day celebrations here, the Delhi police have made unprecedented security arrangements. Special arrangements have also been made for Janmashtami on August 16.

Special Commissioner of Police (Security and Armed Police) Ajay Chadha told mediapersons here on Saturday that the recent Mumbai blasts and the foiling of an attempt by terrorists to blow up aeroplanes mid-air over the Atlantic gave credence to intelligence reports indicating that the capital was also on the hit list.

Mr. Chadha said the trends over the past few years showed that the threat was primarily from explosives. "This could be in the form of human bombs, car bombs or even fidayeen attacks. But we are prepared."

Rise in threat perception

About the U.S. warning on attacks by foreign militants in Delhi and Mumbai, Mr. Chadha said the police here were already aware of it. With heightened terrorist activities there was a "considerable escalation in threat perception."

The focal point of the mammoth security arrangements was the Red Fort, from where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would unfurl the tricolour and address the nation on August 15.

An estimated 10,000 personnel of the Delhi police and Central organisations such as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Central Industrial Security Force would be deployed at the venue.

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