New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) A day ahead of the Independence Day, security forces are on a high alert in Delhi. A five-layer security system is in place for Aug 15 when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the nation from the Red Fort.
A senior police officer said large-scale deployments of police and paramilitary forces have been made in and around the Red Fort, where the prime minister will unfurl the national flag Monday and address the nation.
Sharpshooters have been deployed at rooftops of buildings in central and old Delhi near the Red Fort, police said. Right from Tilak Bridge to the Red Fort, police personnel are deployed on the rooftops of offices, buildings and houses along the about 4.5-km stretch.
Offices, shops and buildings in these areas are sealed until the prime minister's Red Fort programme is over Aug 15 morning.
Fighter planes will be on standby at nearby 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.
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 tab 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, the army and National Security Guard (NSG) commandos to make the area attack-proof.
"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 are deployed," said the officer.
Delhi Police dog squads have even checked garbage bins.
Meanwhile, a large number of police personnel, commandos and sleuths in plainclothes are also deployed in these areas for security.