Delhi Police, US sleuths discuss security for Barack Obama

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police today held meetings with sleuths of US Secret Service and top police officials of neighbouring states to chalk out a coordination plan and identify possible challenges in order to ensure fool-proof security during the coming Republic Day parade where President Barack Obama will be the chief guest.

According to sources, officials of the US Secret Service discussed the overall security set-up for Obama's visit and also sought a certain details regarding the hotel where he would stay, routes he will travel and the places he will visit.

They have also asked access to CCTV cameras installed on all the routes to be travelled by the US President and several emergency exit routes were also finalized for Obama's entourage.

In a related development, an interstate co-ordination meeting aimed at strengthening cooperation and coordination in order to address various issues related to policing in NCR was held under the chairmanship of Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today.

The main objective of the meeting was to share terror- related intelligence and inputs about various extremist outfits and their designs, besides curbing criminal activities in NCR region and having better coordination on all aspects of policing in view of the coming Republic Day and Delhi Assembly elections. Senior officers of Delhi Police and their counterparts from Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Rajasthan and J&K attended the meeting," said a senior police official.

During the meeting, Bassi stressed on increasing police presence, intensive and co-ordinate checking at vulnerable points, tenant verification, guest house checking and sensitization of cyber café owners, second-hand car dealers, transporters, property dealers, cycle sellers, chemical dealers and STD/ISTD PCO booth owners.

"He also instructed to keep a watch on open area for flying of para-glider, micro-light aircraft, sharing information, conducting raids and concerted action against inter-state criminals particularly those involved in heinous offences, repeat offenders and gangs etc in order to strengthen measures of counter terrorism," said the official.

Delhi Police requested for sharing of advance information regarding the visit of protected persons.