Delhi turns into fortress ahead of Independence Day

NEW DELHI: The national capital has turned into a virtual fortress ahead of the Independence Day celebrations as thousands of armed security personnel kept a hawk-eyed vigil to pre-empt any possible terror strike in the city.

The central security agencies had given inputs to police that Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror group may attempt to attack markets or places of strategic importance in the city.

A ground-to-air security apparatus has been put in place especially near the Red Fort from where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the tricolour and address the nation on Thursday.

Thousands of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed at market places, airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, metro stations and places of strategic importance.

Besides patrolling of the skies by helicopters, an air defence mechanism will also be put in place around the venue.

The alert by central security agencies quoted a paragraph from speech of Hafiz Saeed, founder of Lashker-e-Taiba, delivered last month in Pakistan where he had openly threatened that his terrorists will carry out an attack in the national capital.

Around 50 CCTVs have been installed in and around the Red Fort to ensure incident-free celebrations while sharpshooters of the NSG will be deployed on the high-rises near the 17th century Mughal monument, officials said.

At least 80 companies of security forces (around 6,000 personnel) will be deployed at the Red Fort and the surrounding areas during the Independence Day celebrations, said a senior police official.

Security agencies are constantly reviewing arrangements at the Red Fort and have zeroed in on the 'safe houses' where the Prime Minister and other leaders should be taken to in case of a terrorist strike, officials said.