New Delhi: As India is set to celebrate the 76th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm, the police in the national capital are on their toes to prevent any untoward incident.
“During the Independence Day season, there is a high footfall of people in the markets, temples and commercial places. This rush of people can be used by anti-national elements having nefarious designs to carry out terror attacks in such places,” a top official told IANS.
Owing to this, the police have made stringent security arrangements in Delhi to counter any threat.”On such occasions, Delhi Police raises its alert. We increase our visibility, presence, and checking to counter any threat,” the senior police official said.
He said that the Delhi Police have activated its community policing like ‘Eyes and Ears’ so that locals inform the police personnel about any anti-social elements in their area.
Notably, Delhi is currently under a heavy security cover after the intelligence agencies received inputs of a possible terror attack in the city.
The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has issued five fresh alerts, warning of a possible terror strike in the national capital and several cities, ahead of the Independence Day.
The law enforcement agencies have been warned that terrorists could use IEDs during the flag hoisting ceremony which will be held on August 15 at the Red Fort.
Anti-drone system installed near Red Fort
To counter any threat from sub-conventional aerial platforms and manned or unmanned flying objects, including drones, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has installed an anti-drone system near the Red Fort, just a day ahead of the country’s Independence Day.
A DRDO official said the system has the capacity to detect and deactivate multiple drones at the same time within a radius of around 4km with the help of a jammer that has been installed just next to it.
With technological advancements, the terrorists may attack the Red Fort using flying objects. Due to this, it has been suggested to put a complete ban on flying objects, including kites, near the Red Fort.
Keeping in view all such threats, Delhi Police have taken adequate measures on ground to prevent any untoward incident.
“Kite catchers have been deployed with necessary equipment on strategic locations, who will prevent kites, balloons and Chinese lanterns from reaching the function area,” a senior Delhi Police official told IANS.
Besides this, police personnel have been deployed to keep a vigil from the roof tops who will coordinate with the kite catchers. Two rounds of training and briefing have been organised for them for this purpose.
“Announcements have been made from religious places urging people not to fly kites in the area from August 13 to 15,” the official said.
From the security point of view, drones allow an attacker to reach any target in any location without any risk to the operator, and there is an ever-expanding domain of usage, ranging from weapon carriers to espionage tools.
Punjab Police bust terrorist module
Thwarting a possible terrorist attack ahead of Independence Day, Punjab Police have busted a terrorist module with the arrest of four members associated with Canada-based gangsters.
The accused were associated with Arshdeep Singh, a.k.a. Arsh Dala, and Australia-based gangster Gurjant Singh, a.k.a. Janta. They were apprehended from Delhi during the intelligence-led operation carried out by the Counter-Intelligence unit of Punjab Police with the help of Delhi Police.
The Police have also recovered three hand-grenades (P-86), one IED and two 9 mm pistols along with 40 cartridges from the possession of arrested persons, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.
This is the third such module of cross-border smuggling of arms and explosives that has been busted by the Punjab Police in less than a week.
Those arrested have been identified as Deepak Sharma of Moga; Sandeep Singh of Ferozepur; and Sunny Dagar and Vipin Jakhar, both of Delhi.
DGP Yadav said following reliable inputs that associates of Arsh Dala are being harboured by Jakhar at his accommodation in Goyla Khurd village in Delhi, teams of Punjab Police along with Delhi Police conducted a raid at their premises on Friday, and arrested them after recovering two 9 mm pistols (foreign-made) along with 40 cartridges.
“Working on the leads obtained during the questioning of the arrested persons, the police teams have also recovered one IED and three hand-grenades on Saturday from the locations pinpointed by them in Punjab,” he said, adding the arrested accused also revealed that they were being tasked by Arsh Dala to execute criminal activities in areas of Delhi and Punjab ahead of Independence Day to disrupt the peace and harmony.
Punjab resumes Bhagat Singh award for youth
On the eve of the country’s 75th Independence Day, the Punjab government on Sunday announced to restart the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh State Yuva Award, which was lying defunct for long. Two youth from each district of the state will get the award.
The aim to resume this award is to make the youth a partner in the development of the state, besides empowering them.
Haryana to set up memorial of Partition heroes in Kurukshetra
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced a world-class war memorial to be built by Panchnad Smarak Trust near Pipli town in Kurukshetra district to remember those who were martyred at the time of the country’s Partition.
Speaking at the state-level programme organised in Kurukshetra to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, the Chief Minister said he wished the ‘Shaheedi Smarak’ or war memorial should be recognised at the national level for which every section of society ensures their contribution.
Security stepped up in J&K
Aiming to ensure the safety of citizens during the Independence Day celebrations, the Jammu and Kashmir Police has heightened the security arrangements with the use of drones and patrolling in the area, according to an official.
The official expressed confidence in the smooth celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Independence “smoothly”.
“Security arrangements have been made. Drones are being used. Patrolling is on. Covert and overt surveillance is also on. We are confident that the Independence Day celebrations would go smoothly,” said Rayees Bhat, SSP, Baramulla.
