Security beefed up in Capital ahead of Independence Day

With Independence Day just round the corner, and the Gurdaspur attack and Yakub Memon’s hanging fresh in memory, security arrangements have been beefed up at crucial spots in the city.

With Independence Day just round the corner, and the Gurdaspur attack and Yakub Memon’s hanging fresh in memory, security arrangements have been beefed up at crucial spots in the city.

HT Image

Personnel from the paramilitary, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Delhi government marshals are patrolling railway stations, metro stations, airport, markets and hotels round the clock, while the Delhi Police held a mock drill at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway station on Monday to check preparedness in the event of a Gurdaspur-like attack.

“The response time of Delhi Police and other agencies was satisfactory and feedback would be given to every agency,” said Sanjay Bhatia, DCP (Railway).

At 12.30 pm, a bomb hoax was made to check PCR and ambulances’ response time. At 12.40 pm, another call was made that terrorists had taken people hostage. The SWAT team and Delhi Police Special Cell responded in time, said officials.

In the wake of recent threats, the Delhi Police are also conducting surprise checks at the budget hotels in the city. “Along with the DCP, we conducted surprise checks at several hotels in Paharganj and Karol Bagh. The DCP randomly checked the register and CCTV cameras. We have been asked to inform the police in case of any suspicious activity,” said Arun Gupta, president of Paharganj Hotel Association.

However, extra security measures mean traffic jam and long queues at metro stations.

“We have placed an extra person at the security check to identify suspicious persons in the queue. Usually at busy metro stations, there is long queue for the security check so we have to be vigilant. Staff has been asked to focus on detailed frisking due to which passengers have to wait,” said a CISF official.