By IANS
New Delhi : Amid terror threats by Al Qaeda, authorities in the Indian capital Wednesday unveiled an unprecedented security blanket that turned the Red Fort into a fortress and much of Delhi looking like a garrison town.
Even by the standards of the tight security the city sees every Independence Day, the police, paramilitary and armed forces were prepared to take no chances, so much so that even they were frisked by one another.
“How can there by any untoward incident?” asked an operative of one of the intelligence agencies. “I myself get checked and frisked at least five times as and when I approach the Red Fort. How can any outsider enter this place?”
Around 10,500 men and women from the Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Central Industrial Security Force besides 64,000 Delhi Police personnel formed the inner and outer layers of the security at the 17th century Red Fort where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh delivered his fourth Aug 15 speech since assuming office in 2004.
Indian Air Force helicopters hovered overhead, keeping an eye over the city. Sharpshooters and anti-aircraft guns were also deployed in buildings all across the old quarters of the city.
Earlier this month, Al Qaeda had threatened to carry out attacks against India, Israel and the US, causing worry in the Indian security establishment.
Although traffic on the roads was minimal Wednesday, the closure of border checkpoints for heavy vehicles led to thousands of trucks getting stranded at all entry points.
And thousands who wanted to attend the celebrations at the Red Fort suffered immensely because of traffic restrictions and closed roads – and also, in some cases, due to unhelpful policemen.
In parts of west Delhi, police barricades came up at every kilometre to regulate and check traffic.
“It took me three hours to reach the Red Fort from west Delhi home as the cops closed all connecting roads,” said Mayank Aggarwal, a collage student who wanted to attend the Independence Day celebrations.
“By the time I reached there, the function was over,” a disappointed Aggarwal told IANS.
Added Sunny Seghal, who works for an advertising agency: “The police didn’t help us reach the venue. They were rude and asked us to not to ask directions from them.”
But Vidushi Bajaj, a young woman studying business administration, said it was time people learnt to live with some inconvenience on occasions such as Aug 15.
“People should not mind it as this is in national interest… We must stick to the rules and regulations issued by the government at this time,” she said.
As part of security measures, areas surrounding the Red Fort were turned into a ‘no-fly zone’ Wednesday. In addition, train services too were suspended near the Red Fort.
Security was also tight at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, parliament, the inter-state bus terminal, railway stations, crowded markets, leading cinema houses and the Metro Rail network.