By IANS,
New Delhi : Ahead of Independence Day, security forces have gone on high alert. A five-layer security system will be place Aug 15 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the nation from the Red Fort.
A senior police officer said largescale deployment of police and paramilitary forces have been deplohyed in and around the Red Fort, where the prime minister will unfurl the national flag Monday.
Fighter planes will be deployed at air force bases and the whole of Old and central Delhi areas will be no-fly zones when Manmohan Singh speaks to the nation, said an official.
The police have gone to the extent of covering every drain and putting stickers on them in and around the 17th century fort.
Hotels, motels, guest houses and restaurants have been told to keep a tap on clients. Rickshaw pullers and vendors have been asked to keep a lookout for suspicious objects or people.
More than 10,000 Delhi Police personnel will be deployed in the Red Fort and surrounding areas along with snipers, army and National Security Guard (NSG) commandos to make the area attack-proof.
Temporary pickets have come up and the snipers will be deployed from Aug 14, said the officer.
“Around 50 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on and around roads leading to the Red Fort have been installed. Quick Reaction Teams and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams will be deployed on Monday and we will use helicopters,” said the officer.
Parking lots at Delhi Metro stations will be shut for 24 hours from Sunday afternoon.
Delhi Police dog squad have even checked garbage bins.