Agencies
NEW DELHI, JANAURY 21
Massive security arrangements have been put in place for the three-day visit of US President Barack Obama, who will be arriving in India on January 25 for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day.
He will also visit Taj Mahal in Agra on January 27.As per reports, a no-fly zone around Rajpath and nearby areas has been put in place for January 26. This means that now no drones will be used, as had been suggested by American security agencies.
They were apprehensive that a flying object could be used as a weapon.
Also, 71 high-rises around Rajpath have been identified as places from which an attack could be launched or used as a possible hiding place by miscreants.
These will be sanitised and kept under watch. In the past only 45 such buildings had been identified.
Sources said a seven-layer security ring will be thrown around the VVIP enclosure on Rajpath for the Republic Day parade, as per PTI.
Moreover, the airspace over the area would be monitored by a radar to be specially set up.
This will be part of the ground-to-air security drill during Obama visit, which will take him to Agra too.
A multi-agency control room will monitor the surveillance operations in every area of the national capital which has been put on the highest alert.
At the same time, all offices, government and private, close to Rajpath will be sanitised and special passes will be issued to employees who will be working there on January 25 and 26. Only these people will be allowed entry in the buildings.
Sanitisation of these buildings will be also take place from 1 pm on January 25.
Adding to these security arrangements, key buildings facing Rajpath and Obama’s route will have snipers them and SP Marg, which will be used by the US President, will be sanitised.
This year for Republic Day parade only 1:25 times extra passes will be issued compared to previous years when three times extra passes used to be issued.
The above restrictions will remain in place for January 25 and 26.
Meanwhile, asked about the security preparation for Obama’s visit, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters today that “all security arrangements are in place. There will be no problem anywhere,” as per PTI.
On the other hand, BSF, which comes under the Home Ministry, has stepped up security along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, deploying close to 1,200 additional personnel there in view of the US President’s visit to India.
