New Delhi, Jan 25: A thick security blanket was
thrown at strategic places across the country on the eve of
60th Republic Day and a surface-to-air shield put in place in
the national capital, where the main celebrations will be
held.
Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharp-shooters
of the elite NSG will be deployed at various locations while
paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will keep a tight
vigil along the route of the Republic Day parade during which
President Pratibha Patil will take the salute.
It would be for the first time that the Prime Minister
will not be participating in the celebrations since Manmohan
Singh is in the hospital.
Nearly 20,000 gun-toting policemen fanned out across
Delhi, stepping up the security measures especially in the
backdrop of Mumbai carnage which claimed over 180 lives.
Security at important public places and vital
installations, including the Delhi Metro stations, railway
stations, bus terminals and crowded marketplaces have been
tightened.
Electronic surveillance has been increased and extra
security cover extended to all the religious places in the
capital and air space been closed for traffic.
In Bihar, in the wake of Maoists` call to boycott
Republic day celebrations, the entire state has been put on
high alert and security increased along the porous Indo-Nepal
border.
"Patrolling by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and state
police has been enhanced along the porous Indo-Nepal border to
prevent Nepali Maoists from sneaking into the state to aid any
sinister designs their comrades on this side of the border
might have to disrupt Republic Day celebrations," Additional
Director General (ADG), headquarters, Neelmani said.
In Jammu, a security alert has been sounded and police
have been put on high alert in view of reports that militants
might indulge in subversive activities in the region.
"There are Intelligence inputs that some anti-national
elements may indulge in subversive activities with a view to
vitiate the atmosphere and terrorise people, IGP (Jammu Zone)
K Rajindra Kumar said.
However, people in the Kashmir valley had a break with
all enhanced security trappings usual on the eve of the
Republic Day after a gap of 20 years, thanks to lesser
incidents of militancy and government`s direction in this
regard.
There is neither large scale concentration of security
forces nor frisking, and life is going on as usual.
Stringent security arrangements used to be taken up on
the eve of such days in the valley and people used to rush
home to escape from getting caught in crossfire.
The new mood is attributed to lesser incidents of
militancy in the state and directions of the new government to
security forces to `be polite with common people.`
However, security forces have been asked to remain
vigilant as there are apprehensions that militants might try
to carry out attack, officials said.
Security arrangements have been tightened across
Meghalaya, particularly in Shillong, in view of the 24-hour
bandh called by the banned Hynniewtrep National Liberation
Council to boycott the Republic Day celebrations. The bandh
has been called from 6 pm today to 6 pm tomorrow.
Additional forces, including paramilitary personnel have
been deployed at various places across the city while frisking
of vehicles and patrolling have been intensified.
Four northeast militant groups, including ULFA, have
called for a boycott of Republic day celebrations and a
general strike.
Bureau Report
