The national Capital has not only been decked in tricolour hues in the lead up to the 76th Independence Day celebrations, but also put under a heavy security blanket with more than 10,000 personnel manning the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the country.
From facial recognition system (FRS) cameras installed at the entry point of the Red Fort to multi-layered security cover and deployment of over 400 kite catchers and fliers on rooftops and other sensitive locations in the fort area to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms — the area is under hawk-eye vigil.
With nearly 7,000 invitees expected to attend the event at the Red Fort, a five-kilometre area around the monument has been marked as "no kite flying zone'' till the tricolour is hoisted.Dependra Pathak, Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), had said provisions of Section 144 have already been instituted in Delhi.
Anyone seen flying kites, balloons or Chinese lanterns from August 13 to August 15 till the end of the programme at Red Fort will be punished.
Anti-drone systems from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)and other security agencies have also been installed, police said.
Delhi Police apprehended two Bangladeshi nationals from the Palam area of the city and recovered several passports and 10 fake stamps belonging to Bangladesh ministries from their possession, according to an official on Sunday. The arrested Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as Md Mostafa and Md Husain Sheikh who was staying at Palam Extension, Near Ramphal Chowk. “On search, they were found to be in possession of 11 passports of different Bangladeshi citizens and also 10 fake stamps of various ministries and notary of Bangladesh.
About the fake rubber stamps, they had no substantive answer,” said the police.
On Friday, the Delhi Police had recovered over 2,200 live cartridges near Anand Vihar Inter State Bus Terminal and arrested six people in this connection. Police are also carrying out massive checks for Improvised Explosive Devices. The personnel have been briefed about adequate security, training and deployment as per plans.
"Kite catchers have been deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations and they will prevent any kind of kite, balloon and Chinese lanterns from reaching the function area. Radars will be deployed to counter any threats from sub-conventional aerial platforms and manned or unmanned flying objects," Pathak said.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day address in 2017, a kite had landed just below the podium. The prime minister had, however, continued with his speech unfazed.
Around 1,000 high-specification cameras have been installed in the North, Central and New Delhi district units to contain aerial objects. These cameras will also help monitor the VVIP route to the monument, police said.