Delhi Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the swearing-in-ceremony of Delhi’s new Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at historical Ramlila Maidan. The ceremony is to be held on February 14. Delhi Police has taken over the access control of the Ramlila Maidan to ensure that the venue is fully sanitised for the mega event as thousands of people are expected to be present during the swearing-in.
Over 3,000 security personnel, including men and officers from the Central para-military forces, will be deployed in and around the ground, which has a capacity of over 50,000 people. The police are expecting a gathering of over one lakh people, including the VVIPs.
Amid intelligence intercepts about subversive elements trying to disrupt the ceremony, Delhi Police officers carried out a detailed survey of Ramlila Maidan. Door-framed metal detectors (DFMDs) will be erected to ensure nobody is allowed inside without being frisked.
It may be noted that senior Delhi Police officials had inspected the venue on Tuesday too to identify the kind of security apparatus needed to be put in place there. According to sources in the Delhi Police, a team, including officials from the Police Headquarters and those from the Central range, visited Ramlila ground around 3 PM to take stock of the security needs of the venue.
The team spent around 40 minutes at the ground. Keeping in view the huge support for AAP, police are expecting a huge turnout at Kejriwal’s oath-taking ceremony. There would be two aspects of security. One team would take care of the security of the dais while the other of law and order and crowd control at the venue as a whole,” said a police official.
In the event of Kejriwal refusing Z-plus security cover provided to him by Delhi Police, despite a serious threat perception, it has become a challenge for the police to guard him on the oath-taking ceremony as it anticipates a sea of AAP supporters and volunteers. Senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, “Arvind has a genuine threat to his life that is why he needs security cover”.
Sources in Delhi Police said that the Chief Minister-designate has been conveyed that there was a serious threat hence they cannot take chances with his security. The security ring will be placed in such a way that it remains unobtrusive but effective.
“A total of 250 DFMDs are being installed at the venue. At least, a three-tier security will be put in place,” a police official said. The ground witnessed the huge gathering during the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare in 2011.
Delhi Chief Secretary DM Spolia along with the senior police officials visited the venue to inspect the security and sitting arrangements. The officials are also in touch with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and volunteers to arrange the security on the route which Kejriwal will be taking to reach the ground during the roadshow.
“CCTV cameras will also be installed at a few intersections of road, specially the areas near Ghaziabad border which will be taken by Kejriwal,” the officer added. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Police has set up a camp at Girnar apartments in Kaushambi to secure the residence of Kejriwal.
The lane near the apartment has come up with barricades and armed police personnel are manning the security to keep suspicious elements at bay, said a senior police official of the Ghaziabad Police.