Ashoka, Samrat hotels undergo security drill

Delhi Police conducted a “test security run” at The Ashoka and Samrat Hotel to check their preparedness for the Commonwealth Games last week. Personnel from the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were deployed at the hotel and security was reviewed in accordance with the matrix prepared. This was the first time that a full-scale security test was done at the hotel ahead of the Games.

Delhi Police conducted a “test security run” at The Ashoka and Samrat Hotel to check their preparedness for the Commonwealth Games last week. Personnel from the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were deployed at the hotel and security was reviewed in accordance with the matrix prepared. This was the first time that a full-scale security test was done at the hotel ahead of the Games.

HT Image

The delegates visiting the city will be staying at these hotels, as they are the official hosts for the Commonwealth Games.

“We have a separate security plan for all the venues including the hotels where the delegates will stay. We have got outside force and the ITBP jawans are part of that. As they are trained in combat, they are a natural choice for such preparations,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity.

A posse of ITBP jawans was deployed at all the gates of the two hotels. Both are adjacent to each other. The jawans are equipped to handle sophisticated weapons.

“We had put sandbags at the gates and conducted a dry run at the hotel,” said the officer.

The two-day security drill was held at the Ashoka Hotel on July 25 and 26. The delegates, 105 in number, were present at the security meet.

Like other test venues the hotels will also have five security layers. A separate team will monitor the movement of all the people at the periphery of the hotel with the help of close circuit television cameras (CCTV) installed at the gates.

Road jammers and tyre busters will also be put to use at the hotel.

“The ITBP jawans are working in close coordination with the Delhi Police. We have prepared a separate matrix for each venue including the hotels. The structure is highly confidential and only a few officials have access to it,” said the officer.

Delhi Police said there was no specific threat to the Commonwealth Games but they were not taking any chances.