Security Beefed Up Across Delhi- NCR Ahead Of 74th Independence Day Celebrations On Aug 15

Security forces have beefed up arrangements before the big Independence Day celebrations on August 15. This year due to the pandemic special attention will also be given to Covid 19 safety precautions.

An Army officer during the full dress rehearsals at the Red Fort, New Delhi. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: A day ahead of the 74th Independence Day celebrations in Delhi, security has been tightened  around Delhi-National Capital Region. The security forces are using multi-layered arrangements to ensure safety during the celebrations with over 45,000 security personnel on duty on Independence day. Agencies such as the NSG, SPG and ITBP have also been placed on high alert. "All the agencies will work in close coordination with each other to cater to all kinds of threat inputs. SWAT teams and Parakram vans have been strategically stationed," said a senior police officer in a report by IANS. Security measures for the big celebrations include 2,000 snipers who have been placed at specific locations on high-rises in around 5 km periphery of the Red Fort, around 20 teams of dog squad of the Crime Branch and others and Bomb disposal squads that will be placed in and around the Red Fort. "We have also set up facial recognition systems at vantage points for suspect identification. This would help the security forces screen the suspects around the celebration area," the officer said. In border areas, the forces are keeping a strict vigil and in Ghaziabad, special search operations are being done in hotels, lodges, roadside eateries, bus stands and railway stations. Apart from the main venue at Red Fort, security at the Rashtrapati Bhawan has also been tightened. To avoid congestion on August 15, special traffic arrangements have also been made with the deployment of staff, signages for public convenience measures. This year due to the coronavirus pandemic focus is also being given to safety precautions such as sanitisation and screening of personnel who will be participating in the celebrations. In Delhi, at least 350 police personnel who will be part of the guard of honour at the Red Fort have been quarantined ahead of the ceremony at the police colony in the Delhi Cantonment. "All the necessary guidelines in view of the Covid-19 pandemic will be enforced," said a senior police officer.