Ahead of Independence Day celebrations on August 15 and amid multiple intelligence inputs, the Red Fort has been placed under an unprecedented multi-layered security cover. Around 1,000 CCTV cameras, including facial recognition system (FRS) cameras will monitor the Red Fort and its surrounding areas. An anti-drone system has also been deployed to prevent any unauthorised aerial activity.
Around 25,000 people, including VIPs and VVIPs, are expected to attend the Independence Day programme at the Red Fort. Security forces have deployed snipers on elevated positions to keep a close watch over the venue.Around 15,000 to 20,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed for security at and around the Red Fort on August 15.
Security agencies are maintaining heightened vigilance in view of the presence of a large number of suspected and criminal elements in New Delhi during the recent Jantar Mantar protest. Sources said that around 2,700 individuals with criminal backgrounds were found in the New Delhi area during the protest, prompting security agencies to intensify screening ahead of Independence Day.
Kite flying has also been prohibited around the Red Fort on August 15 as part of the security arrangements.
A high-tech CCTV control room has been established inside the Red Fort. Police personnel and technical teams are monitoring the venue round-the-clock. The surveillance network is not restricted to the Red Fort premises. CCTV feeds are being used to monitor the Red Fort and areas extending several kilometres outside the monument.
One of the key security measures this year is the use of the Abhigyan app, which Delhi Police is using to screen suspicious persons and identify individuals with criminal records. A Delhi Police team stationed near the Red Fort demonstrated how the system works. The database contains details of approximately 1.32 crore individuals who have, at some point, been involved in criminal cases or have been lodged in jail.
During screening, a person's fingerprint is scanned using a fingerprint scanner. The system then searches the database and can return the person's details within seconds. If the individual has a criminal background, the application displays a red alert/mark, following which police personnel conduct detailed verification and further checks. The objective is to ensure that individuals with criminal backgrounds do not manage to enter or create a security threat during the Independence Day celebrations.
The enhanced security arrangements come after the presence of a large number of individuals with criminal backgrounds was noticed during a recent protest at Jantar Mantar. Security agencies are therefore keeping a particularly close watch on people entering the Red Fort area, with multiple layers of physical security, CCTV surveillance, facial recognition, fingerprint-based verification, anti-drone systems and sniper deployment.
Priyank Tripathi is a Special Correspondent with over 16 years of experience in Journalism. The author covers agencies and furthermore reports from th… View More