Delhi on high alert, 25,000 personnel deployed for Independence Day
The capital is on high alert in view of Independence Day celebrations, with more than 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the city to maintain law and order, while a multi-layered security grid is in place around the Red Fort, a senior police officer said.
Elaborate security arrangements, involving over 1,000 CCTV cameras and AI-based video analytics, are in place around the Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unfurl the national flag and address the nation.
"We have elaborate security arrangements, keeping in mind the incidents witnessed in the capital last year," Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia told PTI.
The security plan includes multiple layers of checking and screening at entry points and around the Red Fort, besides a dedicated anti-terror response mechanism to deal with any possible threat or emergency situation, the officer said. More than 25,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at strategic locations across the city, including the Red Fort and other sensitive areas.
"Advance liaison, mock drills and advance intimation have been carried out so that all agencies are prepared and there is a coordinated response in case of any emergency," Banthia said.
More than 1,000 CCTV cameras are deployed inside and outside the Red Fort to keep a close watch on the area. The cameras are linked to systems equipped with AI-based video analytics, while live feeds are being monitored from a dedicated control room, he said. The surveillance system will help security personnel detect suspicious activity, crowd-related issues and other law and order situations in real time, allowing response teams to act immediately, the DCP said. "If a law and order situation emerges, we will respond immediately. Response teams are ready and deployed at strategic locations," Banthia said.
Security personnel are also regulating the movement of people and vehicles in the vicinity of the Red Fort, while checking and screening are being carried out to ensure visitors and invitees face minimum inconvenience.
Police and specialised response teams are maintaining heightened surveillance at vital installations, public places, markets, transport hubs and other sensitive locations across the city. Security agencies are maintaining close coordination and sharing inputs to ensure a swift and coordinated response to any emerging threat, with mock drills and advance coordination exercises also carried out to familiarise personnel with emergency response procedures.
(With inputs from PTI)
