Venues to get security cordon today
The Delhi police will take over all the Commonwealth Games venues on Tuesday. The Delhi police, which is the nodal agency for Games security, will conduct various drills, including anti-sabotage checks once it takes over possession of the venues, confirmed Delhi police officers. Apart from around 80,000 Delhi police personnel, over 17,500 paramilitary personnel, 3,000 commandos and 100 anti-sabotage check teams will be deployed across the city. The Army has been asked to be alert.
After taking over the venues, the security personnel will sanitise and seal them after a thorough check, said a senior police officer.
Concerns were earlier raised about the delay in handing over venues to security agencies as some quarters felt that it would hamper the security preparations. Delhi police commissioner Y.S. Dadwal, however, downplayed the delay and said the force was prepared to handle the security issues related to the sporting extravaganza. “We know the stadia and surrounding areas. We know the city very well. So securing them or other areas will not be a problem,” said Mr Dadwal.
Meanwhile, Union home minister P. Chidambaram will review the arrangements on September 15, once the security overlays are put in place. The Delhi government officials have also confirmed that helicopter-borne snipers, four-layered security cordon around venues and exclusive lanes for Games vehicles were among the components of the mammoth security plan for the event.
The security plan prepared for the mega event, which will see participation of around 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events, will include snipers on rooftops, commando hit teams and expert groups to tackle any chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear attacks while the Air Force will provide surveillance from the skies. According to the plan, the venues, Games Village, practise and parking lots and Indira Gandhi International Airport where athletes will arrive, will have a four-layered security cordon, confirmed senior Delhi police officers.
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