Fear factor on freedom day

The run-up to August 15 will be a tense one for Delhi police and central intelligence agencies, writes Archis Mohan.

The run-up to August 15 will be a tense one for Delhi police and central intelligence agencies. An unprecedented security cover has been planned for the day with militant groups, dor mant and active, desperate to make their presence felt in the capital.

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Case in point would be the two bomb blasts on May 22 at Satyam and Liberty cinemas, believed to be the handiwork of Babbar Khalsa International and the Khalistan Zindabad Force (Neeta group).

Intelligence agencies fear that I-Day will give the two groups another opportunity to stage an attack, even if it is a symbolic one. The police are scouring the city for a team of 20 men, who they believe, have been assigned the task of staging an attack in the capital on August 15.

The greatest worry -- these men are part of the 22-member suicide squad trained by Babbar Khalsa International. Only six have been arrested. There are worrying reports of RDX being smuggled into the city in large amounts. Security for both Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar -- fac ing the heat for the 1984 riots- has been increased.

Here's how the police are securing Delhi Nearly 20,000 police personnel will be deployed across the city All vehicles entering Delhi are being checked Borders will be sealed on Sunday On I-Day, city will be a no-fly zone from morning to afternoon Connaught Place buildings will be evacuated on Saturday afternoon Snipers and plainclothesmen will guard buildings in and around the Red Fort, and in CP All houses within a 3km-radius of Red Fort to be "sanitised" Two anti aircraft guns to be stationed on couple of high-rise buildings Loiterers will be picked up for questioning Intensive checking of all guest houses, tenant verification Ban on heavy vehicles around Red Fort from Sunday Nearly a 1,000 people, especially those with questionable reputation under each police station, are being arrested every day under the preventive detention law and other special powers.