Delhi police on high alert ahead of Independence day

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have asked operators of guesthouses, cyber cafes, telephone booths and taxi services to keep a watch on their customers and report about suspicious people for securing the national capital ahead of Independence Day celebrations.

Police have issued instructions to the operators to keep a register of their customers and do not allow them to use their facilities without proper identification.

While owners of guesthouses and cyber cafes were asked to install CCTVs, telephone booth operators were instructed to keep a separate register of those making local, STD and ISD calls, a senior police official said.

Owners of guesthouses and hotels were also asked not to allow their guests to use hotel address for getting a mobile connection, the official said, adding they were specifically asked to install CCTVs at the entrance.

The specific instructions to the service providers came against the backdrop of serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad last month, which prompted the authorities to put the national capital on high alert.

The city police are also installing 34 CCTVs in crowded areas from August ten to 15, the official said adding sealed tenders were invited for hiring the equipment.

The Police have already started deploying its personnel across the city while stepping up checking at the borders while about 3,000 paramilitary personnel are expected to join them in the coming days.

"The deployment of paramilitary personnel have already started. Personnel from BSF, CRPF and RAF will be on streets," the official added.