Police tighten security for Chinese premier's visit

New Delhi, May 19: As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set to arrive here Sunday late afternoon, Delhi Police have deployed more personnel and shut down certain routes, including near the Chinese embassy.

The Race Course station of Delhi Metro, which is close to the prime minister's official residence and the diplomatic area, will be closed from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Police officials said Sardar Patel Marg, which connects the Chinese embassy in central Delhi to the airport, will also be closed when the Chinese leader arrives.

"Personnel will be deployed around the hotel where the Chinese premier is to stay. We have increased deployment around the Chinese embassy," a Delhi Police official said without disclosing which hotel the premier would be staying in.

"Nearly 300 police and para-military force officers have been deployed for security," the police official said.

Police sources added that strict vigil is being maintained around Majnu ka Tila, home to thousands of Tibetans living in exile, to ensure they are unable to carry out their threatened protests against the visit.

Li is visiting India at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh May 19-21. From India, Li will go to Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany, reports Xinhua.

Meanwhile, four metro stations will be closed Monday morning. Race Course, Udyog Bhawan, Central Secretariat and Khan Market metro stations will be closed from 8 a.m., to 10 a.m. Monday, a Delhi Metro official said.

IANS