The spectre of terrorist threat looms large over the Independence Day celebrations at historic Red Fort. Security agencies have sounded an alert about the terrorist groups trying to launch a terrorist strike to derail the Independence Day celebrations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the nation from the ramparts of Red Fort and there are intelligence intercepts to suggest that Pakistan-sponsored terrorist groups are planning to target the Prime Minister who figures in the hit list of 11 terrorist outfits. lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) have pooled in to launch terrorist strikes in National capital’s crowded market places to disrupt the celebrations.
Central security agencies, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Delhi Police have planned an extensive five-tier security blanket in and around Red Fort during Prime Minister’s address to the nation. The security arrangements during the celebration at Red Fort have been further scaled. The entire premises have been declared out of bound for the general public. Security agencies and Delhi Police have taken over the Red Fort and all those employed inside the museum and the shopkeepers of Anarkali market inside the Red Fort premises have been evacuated till the Independence Day function at Red Fort was over.
Sources said that the security ring around the Prime Minister has been further enhanced and it will be augmented again on August 13. Teams of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Special units have been asked to be on alert to deal with any emergency. Security in and around Connaught Place, India Gate, Tilak Marg, Rajghat, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Jawahar lal Nehru Marg, Asaf Ali Marg and Ring Road will be strengthened. Security will be put at place in and around Rajghat where Prime Minister will lay the wreath on the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
There are intelligence inputs about lashkar and SIMI trying to carry out an attack on the lines of 26/11 and that has made the security agencies and Delhi Police to carry out a detailed audit to plug all the loopholes. “There will be water tight security at Red Fort and commandos from Central paramilitary forces, elite National Security Guards and over 25 thousand men and officers of Delhi Police will be on the job to man the security apparatus,” said a police official pleading anonymity.
Spotters, sharp-shooters and snipers will keep a hawk eye on any suspicious movement during Prime Minister’s address to the nation. Quick Reaction Teams will be positioned at strategic locations and air defence mechanism will be in place to thwart any misadventure from the skies, the sources added. Senior Delhi Police officers have been stationed inside Red Fort to ensure that no person was allowed to enter Red Fort area and patrolling around the historic monument has been intensified, sources added.