Red Fort a fortress for 1857 anniversary

NEW DELHI: With the country's top leaders coming together to attend the 150th anniversary of the 1857 uprising at the Red Fort May 11, security forces have turned the historic fort into a fortress.

Over 30,000 people will march from Meerut over five days to reach the Red Fort for the grand celebrations. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar would flag off the rally, covering 60 km, from Meerut May 7.

The function on May 11 at Red Fort would be attended by VVIPs including President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Former prime ministers A.B. Vajpayee, V.P Singh, H.D. Deve Gowda and I.K. Gujral have been invited, apart from many freedom fighters.

Select delegates from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also expected to be present at Red Fort.

"The city is holding a mega event and it would be the first time that all VVIPS including the president, prime minister and vice president will attend the function at Red Fort," a Delhi Police spokesman said.

"The security levels are higher than those maintained during the Independence Day celebrations," he added.

Estimates suggest that over 25,000 security personnel would be part of the special arrangements.

According to a police official, anti-sabotage checks are being carried out by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), National Security Guards (NSG), and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), along with the Delhi Police in the area around the venue and all VIP routes will be checked and sealed. Close circuit television cameras will be put up at all vantage points.

He added: "Security agencies would take over the city a day before the event to conduct intensive checks and the windows of buildings facing the Red Fort will be sealed. Sharp shooters would be stationed at vital points to look out for suspicious people."

An extra alert has been sounded following the arrest of three Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a Pakistani national, from Dilli Haat, a handicrafts market in upscale south Delhi. The trio were arrested April 26 with two kg of RDX, two hand grenades, three detonators, one timer and cash worth Rs.25,000.

Joint Commissioner of Police Karnal Singh said the three were indeed planning a terror strike in the city to coincide with 150th anniversary celebrations.

A traffic police official explained that specific arrangements have been made to ensure that the 30,000 people marching from Meerut to Delhi would face no problems in the city.

The participants are to march into the city May 10 and would take the old Grand Trunk Road before arriving at their camp in Yamuna Pushta.

"During their entry, the road along the Rithala-Shahdara Metro route across the Yamuna river will remain closed for about three-four hours," he said.

On May 11, they will walk to Red Fort from the camp through Ring Road, Hanuman Setu and Chandni Chowk.

"The security and traffic arrangements will cause minimal disturbance to other commuters in the city," the official added.