Security tightened in Delhi for New Year festivities

Sunday's blast in Bengaluru has prompted the Delhi Police to further tighten security in the Capital.

Sunday's blast in Bengaluru has prompted the Delhi Police to further tighten security in the Capital.

Police commissioner BS Bassi said that while security arrangements were being verified, he appealed to residents to keep a vigil on any suspicious activity.

"Delhi Police is under maximum alertness. Security arrangements are being cross-checked and all officials are being briefed regularly. In case of any suspicious activity, people are advised to alert the anti-terror unit on 1090," said Bassi.

A low-intensity IED blast outside a busy restaurant in Bengaluru on Sunday night left one woman dead and injured another on Church Street in the central business district of Bengaluru. Soon after the attack, security agencies had issued a high alert notification for other states.

The Delhi Police notified 139 key locations and 255 routes leading to various malls, five-star hotels, pubs and restaurants that will be under a close watch on December 31 and January 1. Anti-terror units have been ordered to patrol the city.

The intelligence agencies have been on their toes ever since the latest hostage crisis in Australia and the terror attack in Pakistan. The city is already on a red alert, owing to American President Barack Obama's scheduled visit on Republic day.

Sources said that while all the 181 police stations were asked to deploy personnel in public places in their area, leaves of SHOs and other senior police officials had been cancelled.

The special cell and special branch units have been asked to maintain a close watch on outgoing and incoming calls from international numbers and e-mails as well.