Threat perception to PM Modi is extremely high on Independence Day: Reports

New Delhi, July 29: This year India is all set to celebrate its 70th Independence Day and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort in the national capital for the third time.

In 2014 and in 2015, PM Modi had snubbed the security cover and chose to directly connect with the people of the nation, without any bullet-proof glass enclosure.

But this year, situation is different as intelligence agencies and Special Protection Group (SPG) have advised PM Modi to speak from within bullet-proof enclosure on Independence Day, after a discussion with the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

The security agencies believe that this time, the threat perception to the PM is extremely high and they hope that PM does not snub their advisory, like he did in last two years.

The report added that few days back, central security agencies had received an information that there may be a possibility of coordinated or lone-wolf terror attacks on August 15, Monday, targeting the prime minister.

The recommendation by the security agencies have come in the backdrop of an intercepted communication that "terror groups may use drones to breach the Prime Minister's security" and Islamic-terror group ISIS, al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami terror outfits are also major threat factors.

Nation wide alert:

In addition to the PM's security, Intelligence Bureau officials have also alerted all states to remain on high alert on August 15. IB officials tell OneIndia that investigations and intercepts picked up in the wake of an ISIS module being busted have revealed that attacks may be attempted in other parts of the country as well.

States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat and West Bengal in particular have been directed to remain on very high alert. Intercepts suggest that lone wolf and coordinated attacks may be executed in crowded areas such as malls and market places.

The central intelligence bureau is coordinating with the state agencies on a day to day basis to ensure that no untoward incidents take place.

Further, the central IB has also suggested that the state units hold a security review meeting with the police officials to assess and analyse the threats.

Some of the alerts picked up suggest that the Grade A in nature and hence excess caution must be exercised, the IB official also informed.

To avoid any untoward incident, police has deployed elaborate security arrangements. Around 5,000 SPG personnel, IB, paramilitary forces and Delhi Police have secured the area covering Red Fort alone and high-resolution CCTV cameras have been installed around the Red Fort.

After former prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984, bullet-resistant enclosure became a compulsory security cover for prime ministers to address the nation on Independence Day, but PM Modi broke the trend in 2014.

OneIndia News