Massive security cover for I-Day in national capital

New Delhi, Aug 15: Thousands of armed security personnel today kept a hawk-eyed vigil over the capital, especially around the Red Fort and surrounding areas where Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the national flag and delivered his maiden Independence Day address to the nation.

Police installed around 200 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the vicinity of the Red Fort while about 500 have been installed on all routes leading to the 17th Century fort.

Besides around 5,000 personnel from the local police, those from the Special Cell and Security wing of the Delhi Police were also pressed into service for security arrangements while the traffic police took care of smooth vehicular movement.

In a first for Independence Day security arrangements, two high-resolution cameras, costing Rs 2.5 crore each have been mounted at the two burjs (towers) of Red Fort to keep tab on any suspicious activity in a four-km radius of the Mughal era monument.

"There are only two such cameras in the country which have been hired by the Delhi Police at Rs 50,000 per day from Mumbai. They have been mounted on two burjs of the Red Fort. We can even zoom in on a housefly in the radius of four kms with them," said a senior police official.

The cameras, which were mounted yesterday, are more powerful than those used by television broadcasters. The live feed from the cameras will be closely monitored at the Delhi Police command room.

An official from the NSG has also been deployed to watch the feed so that he can instruct the snipers at high rises if the need arises. "A fool-proof security plan is in place and we are prepared for any eventuality. People from the general public are requested to cooperate," said a senior Delhi Police official.

PTI