Ahead of Republic Day, intelligence agencies have alerted the security agencies including Delhi Police to keep an eye on protesters who were proactive during the Citizenship Amendment Act protests and farmers’ agitation. A senior Delhi Police officer said that after getting inputs from intelligence agencies, the security of Red Fort and other important installations in New Delhi area has been increased.
“The intelligence input suggests that people wanted in Delhi violence could disrupt the Republic Day celebration. The alert reads that some people who were wanted in Delhi violence are in touch with anti-social elements backed by foreign sources to destabilize normalcy in the country,” he added.
A recent video released by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of the banned organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has urged terrorists in Kashmir valley to support him and reach Delhi to sabotage Republic Day celebrations.
The officer added that precautionary measures have been put in place to curb any untoward incident in the Red Fort following the intelligence alerts. “Delhi borders will get sealed from 25-26 January midnight. Entry of heavy vehicles will not be allowed in Delhi from five border points on 26 January,” he added.
Delhi Police have made high-tech security arrangements to prevent any terror incident. To keep a close watch on the people coming to the parade, the Delhi Police have made a top-notch security arrangement in and around the Rajpath. Delhi Police said a face recognition system has been installed to immediately identify any terror suspect or criminal. The system has a database of 50,000 suspected criminals.
According to the police, 30 face recognition systems have been installed at six entry points and 16 bridges for the people coming to watch the parade. Whenever a suspected person enters from these places, a red light will appear on the system. Further, three control rooms are keeping a watch on the Rajpath through more than 500 CCTV cameras.
Delhi Police have deployed about 30,000 personnel, including 65 companies of paramilitary forces, ahead of the Republic Day parade. 71 DCPs, 213 ACPs, 753 Inspectors of Delhi Police have been given the command of security of the parade. A counter drone system has been installed to monitor the air space. In view of the terrorist threat, 26 parameters of anti-terror measures have been followed.
In order to gather intelligence inputs, Delhi Police are continuously verifying all hotels, guest houses, dharamshalas, tenants living in Delhi, servants working in houses and labourers. Delhi Police are making security arrangements in coordination with the agencies involved in the Central Vista project without halting the work.
To collect every small input, inter-state coordination is used to avert any terrorist activity. A unit of Delhi Police is keeping an eye on social media. People are also being made aware through social media.