When you tune into the Republic day telecast from Rajpath, close to 55,000 security personnel would be busy guarding the parade route along with different strategic locations in the capital given the threat perception from the terrorist organisations.
Security agencies are leaving no stone unturned in guarding and securing the capital today from any misadventure by terrorist outfits. Given the intelligence alert that states terror groups like LeT might use helicopter charter services and charter flights to launch an attack through the air, Delhi Police along with other security agencies are keeping a tight vigil from ground to air round the clock.
The Delhi police have already banned the flying of the sub-conventional aerial platforms like para gliders, UAVs, Microlight aircraft and even hot balloons together with the flying of drones from January 9 to February 9 to check any sabotage from the aerial route.
The security agencies would also be using anti-drone technology to dismantle any threat perception from the air. Commandos with anti-aircraft guns would be positioned to check aerial threat. Delhi police commandos and paramilitary snipers would keep a check from high rising buildings around the parade road along with other vital locations in Delhi.
The reason that the chief guest this Republic day is Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi who is also the deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces makes the security arrangements more sensitive and is keeping the agencies on their toes.
The advisory that has been issued to security agencies states that "it is imperative for the security forces to be familiar with the range of threats for devising appropriate counter means" since the use of conventional weapons by the terrorist and criminal groups is a part of an ongoing process to develop new techniques
and tactics.
Recently the Air defence specialists from Air Force have also trained 40 Delhi police officers in spotting and visually authenticating unauthorised air objects which could be possible aerial threats.
Even the Security forces would not be spared frisking and checking at vital points since the intelligence agencies have input that the terrorists may adopt a new modus operandi to camouflage themselves in military uniform.