C’wealth nations to review security
With just two months left for the Commonwealth Games to begin, the security measures for the mega-sporting event will come under scrutiny by the participating countries whose security heads have reached the city for a review being held on Thursday.
Security heads of 31 participating nations, including Pakistan, will take stock of the security at Commonwealth Games Village and venues where a four-layer protection will be provided during the fortnight-long event being held in October. Government sources said that there are no credible intelligence inputs to suggest a terror threat to the Games. The review comes ahead of a final security review by top home ministry officials to be held on August 15.
Elaborating on Thursday’s exercise where India will showcase its security arrangements for the Games, an official said: “They will be shown four-layer security procedure, how to frisk spectators, check vehicles, foil possible terror strike and rescue and evacuation drills.”
Eight heads of state have confirmed their participation while four more are expected to attend the Games. Live security demonstration will be given to the representatives of the Commonwealth countries on Thursday at the Games Village at Yamuna Bank and Jawaharlal Nehru stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. According to the security plan, athletes, officials and guests can visit the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium only by bus and no VIPs, except the heads of state, will be allowed to take their cars. Parking arrangement has been made for 150 buses in Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. The Safdarjung airport ground will be used as a parking lot given its capacity to accommodate at least 5000 vehicles, the sources said.
Each of the 574 vehicles used for ferrying athletes across the city will have to undergo a mandatory anti-sabotage clearance every morning before athletes board them. This is to prevent a repeat of the Lahore attack of March 2009 in which militants shot at and injured Sri Lankan cricketers touring Pakistan.
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