Three-layer security for Kejriwal's oath taking ceremony

NEW DELHI: There will be three layers of security for the oath ceremony at Ramlila Maidan on Saturday. Police expect more than a lakh people to assemble, and will deploy more than 1,500 personnel inside and outside the ground to maintain order.

Doorframe metal detectors will be used at the five entry gates and visitors will be frisked. Nobody in the audience will be allowed to carry a weapon inside. The special branch is gathering intelligence about the likely composition of the crowd at the ceremony.

The entire venue will be under surveillance with CCTV cameras placed at 20 different locations. Police have also put in place units of the bomb squad to scan and sanitize the venue 24 hours before the ceremony.

All the public address systems and LCD screens will be installed in advance by the public works department and approved by police. The reserve police will also be kept on alert. Senior Delhi Police officers have visited the maidan multiple times to review the security arrangements.

"A team of officers from the security wing, special branch and local police has been assigned to constantly monitor the security arrangements," an officer said.

"We plan to manage the crowd in three steps. There willbe a gathering of officials like the lieutenant governor, chief justice, etc, and then there will be the CM-designate and his people. The third section will be of visitors, of whom the majority willbethe common public," said an officer. The security wing of Delhi Police will cover the stage where AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will take the oath of office, and the local police will make arrangements for the security of the venue.

While there will be spotters on the high-rises around the venue, officers of the special branch and even the local police will be deployed in plainclothes to tackle emergencies.