NEW DELHI, Aug 15: The national capital was placed under heightened security on Saturday as Delhi prepared for the 80th Independence Day celebrations, with the Delhi Police and other security agencies intensifying surveillance and deploying additional personnel at strategic locations.
Security checks were stepped up at entry and exit points across the city, while sensitive areas, crowded markets, railway stations, bus terminals and other key installations were kept under close watch.
Security agencies have coordinated extensive arrangements to manage large crowds and prevent any untoward incident ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Residents and visitors have been advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
Digital parking initiative
In a new traffic-management initiative, the Delhi Traffic Police has digitally mapped seven designated parking locations near the Red Fort in collaboration with Google Maps and Mappls.
The parking sites have been marked on Google Maps, while the Mappls application will generate QR codes for individual locations, enabling visitors and dignitaries to identify their designated parking areas more easily.
The Delhi Traffic Police shared details of the initiative through its official social media handle.
Posters of 19 terror suspects released
As part of heightened security measures, the Delhi Police also released posters featuring 19 wanted terror suspects, announcing rewards for information that could lead to their arrest.
The suspects are allegedly linked to organisations including the Indian Mujahideen, Al-Qaeda and various Khalistani militant groups.Among those named in the posters are Indian Mujahideen-linked operatives Riyaz Bhatkal and Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Iqbal Bhatkal.
The Al-Qaeda-linked suspects listed include Mohammed Shahriyar Akhtar, Abu Sufiyan and Syed Mohammed Arshiyan.
The list also includes several Khalistani operatives, including Ranjit Singh, alias Neeta, and Paramjit Singh Pamma, associated with the Khalistan Zindabad Force; Arshdeep Singh, alias Arsh Dala, linked to the Khalistan Tiger Force; and Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, Wadhawa Singh Babbar and Gurmeet Singh Bagga, associated with the Babbar Khalsa International.
The intensified security measures come as Delhi hosts the country’s Independence Day celebrations, with the Red Fort and surrounding areas under enhanced surveillance.
