Delhi under security blanket on Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan 26: Delhi was under a thick blanket of security on Republic Day today as thousands of armed personnel kept a tight vigil to thwart any terror strike or any untoward incident during the celebrations.

Snipers with sophisticated arms and binoculars were on rooftops while hundreds of police personnel kept the eight km parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort under their watch to ensure that nothing untoward happened. Around 25,000 police personnel, including those from paramilitary forces and sharpshooters from the elite National Security Guards (NSG) were deployed across the city in the run-up to the national celebrations.

Policemen kept a tab on the visuals from over 160 CCTVs between Rajpath and Red Fort, the route of the parade. Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters of the NSG were also on the job at various places while paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos kept a close watch along the route.

"There was special emphasis on anti-sabotage checks, access control measures and intelligence coordination. The entire route of the parade was covered by special security and anti-terror arrangements. "Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also taken to check intrusion of air space," a senior police official said.

Besides the air defence measures, helicopters of the Indian Air Force hovered around Rajpath and all along the route of the parade. Vehicles entering the city were randomly checked. As the city witnessed a terror strike only four months ago, the security establishment left no stones unturned to ensure an incident-free celebrations.

No vehicles were allowed to ply on the Rajpath from 6PM yesterday while vehicular movement was restricted on Tilak Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Netaji Subhash Marg upto Red Fort from 4 AM.

PTI