Security beefed up ahead of Republic Day
by Vikram Vishal/Bilal Butt/Ajay Kumar

    New Delhi/Jammu/Patna: Ahead of the 57th Republic Day to be celebrated on Thursday, January 26, elaborate security arrangements have been made across the country to avoid any untoward incident. National capital New Delhi has turned into a virtual fortress as thousands of policemen keep a hawk's eye on the city. With memories of the 29/10 triple-blasts, which killed 66 people in the capital, still fresh, the police are taking no chances. All entry points for the city have been sealed and a security ring thrown around the capital. Thousands of policemen have descended on city roads, checking vehicles, frisking people and baggage at railway stations and barricading important roads. The route of the Parade has been cordoned off with police personnel maintaining a 24-hour security.

    In Jammu, frisking of commuters coming to the city has been stepped up and search operations have begun at various places. But police officials said that as compared to the last few years, they were encouraging participation of local people without compromising on security. "This year we have relaxed a few arrangements for the public so they can come and celebrate the Republic Day. Generally, a feeling of a curfew-like situation prevails and people are not allowed to come, but despite that necessary precautions have been taken to prevent any untoward incident," said S.P. Vaid. On Monday, security forces achieved a major success in the state's Doda district with the surrender of thirteen militants. The surrender came as part of an initiative by security forces to involve families of militants to persuade their kin to leave the path of militancy. "These surrenders were possible largely due to the cooperation of the families of the militants with the security forces. They were able to convince their boys to surrender as part of government programmes," said P.R. Manhas, Senior Superintendent of Police of Doda. Police said some of the militants, who belonged to the banned Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, had received training in Pakistan. Police also recovered a posse of arms and ammunition from the surrendered militants.

    In Patna, the capital of Bihar, a high alert has been sounded amidst intelligence reports about growing activities of militants in the State. The police headquarters in Patna is particularly disturbed with the arrest of a quite large number of Maoists, including those in the ranks of area and zonal commanders, from Patna within a short span of over a week. The police claimed some of those arrested from the areas bordering Patna were involved in the Jehanabad jailbreak incident. "The arrest of senior Maoists leaders from Patna drops hints that something is cooking up. After Jehanabad incident the militants are not limited only to the villages but they have started trickling in to the city. They are much more confident after the Jehanabad and Madban incident. They want to do something big after this to attract more people in their group. Therefore, we have deployed CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) in Patna and QRT (Quick Response Team) in case of any emergency," said Patna SSP Kunda Krishnan The Bihar police was put on alert in view of a communique from the Union Home Ministry based on intelligence reports that jehadi mercenaries crossing over from Pakistan into the country were likely to target vital installations in the state on the eve of or on Republic Day.

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