With terror attacks in Gurdaspur and Udhampur fresh in mind, security arrangements for the Independence Day tomorrow would be intense all over the country, particularly the national capital where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag.
A multi-layered security ring will be thrown at and around the 17th century historic Red Fort from whose ramparts the Prime Minister will address the nation.
A bullet-proof glass enclosure has been erected for the Prime Minister at the Red Fort but it is not clear whether he will be speaking from behind the glass or in open like last year.
Sky over Red Fort and surrounding areas will be a ‘no-fly zone’ tomorrow during the event while thousands of personnel from Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces will be deployed on the ground to prevent any mischief to disturb the celebrations of the 69th Independence Day, official sources said.
Security will also be stepped up at vital installations.
Similar intense security measures will be put in place in all the state capitals and major cities.
While there was no credible intelligence input suggesting attack during the day, the Home Ministry has passed on an advisory to states and union territories especially in the backdrop of recent terror strikes in Gurdaspur in Punjab and Udhampur in Jammu, official sources said.
The inputs collected and collated from various state intelligence agencies, the advisory warned that Pakistan-based terrorist groups and their Indian affiliates like the Indian Mujahideen and members of ex-SIMI may possibly target places like Lotus Temple, metro stations, BJP offices and political personalities in Delhi or malls in adjoining Noida.
Delhi Police and central agencies will keep strict vigil at these locations with Quick Reaction Teams, Bomb squad and Dog squad along with the commando units of Delhi Police, the sources said.
Around 40,000 security personnel will be involved in the security apparatus that will be guarding the national capital with 6,000 of them keeping a watch at Red Fort where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the tricolour and address the nation.
In addition to physically manning the sensitive locations, close circuit TV cameras will be keeping an eye to cover the route to be taken by the PM and other dignitaries to reach the Red Fort, they said.
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.
(With inputs from PTI)