Call from U.S. warns of blasts in NCR
A resident of Noida received an ominous call on August 11 warning him of blasts in Noida and Delhi on Independence Day. The caller hung up without providing details. The call was then reported to the police who traced it to San Francisco in the U.S. The likelihood of the call being a hoax is high. However, Noida Police did alert their Delhi counterparts.
Unprecedented security for 69th Independence Day
Delhi Police Commissioner has put into place airtight security measures to prevent any untoward incident on August 15. Leaves of everyone in the police have been cancelled and personnel have been instructed to stock bullet proof vests in PCR vans. Police have gone to the extent of pruning 3000 trees around the Red Fort to prevent it from being used as camouflage by terrorists.
Mock Drills
Security agencies conduct up to a dozen mock drills every day around the Red Fort area to pre-empt any terror attack. The drills are conducted to test the readiness of securities agencies deployed here including Delhi Police, CISF, ITBP, CRPF and snipers of the NSG.
Cause for alarm?
Senior police officers have disclosed that Prime Minister has been on the radar of a new terrorist group that conceives of new modes of attack. Based on inputs from the Intelligence Bureau, security agencies have checked residents, trees, balconies, windows around the area that could provide a clear view of Red Fort.
Terror warnings abound
Pakistan's top counter-terrorism force has relayed intelligence of two suicide bombers likely to attack the Wagah and Ganda Singh borders close to Independence Day. Extreme vigilance and "heightened security measures" have been suggested to prevent such incidents. Punjab Home Department has also issued an alert that "16 suicide bombers have entered Punjab Province" to target crowds celebrating Independence Day.
Impregnable security
For the first time deployment of drone detectors, paragliders and special equipment to intercept cars at blockades is observed. Sixty sniffer dogs sanitize the area around Red Fort every day and over 300 CCTV cameras are tracking every minor movement.
