Front Page
Army takes over security at PM, Sonia residences
By Our Staff Reporter
NEW DELHI, DEC. 13. In the wake of the unprecedented `fidayeen' (suicide) attack on Parliament today, the Army was asked to take over security at sensitive places, including the residence of the Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.
In all, seven columns of the Army have been deployed, including at North and South Blocks, besides Parliament. While three columns have been deployed at Parliament, four have been deployed for VVIP security. However, the close security ring around these leaders would be managed by the Special Protection Group and the Special Services Group.
The infantry troops _ in full battle gear _ have been drawn from the Rajputana Rifles and the Jat and Madras Regiments.
Security in the sensitive Chanakyapuri area, which houses the embassies of several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia and Australia, was beefed up. Roadblocks and barricades have been put up at several places.
Security was also strengthened at the Supreme Court. The Solicitor-General, Mr. Harish Salve, informed a Bench headed by the Chief Justice, Mr. S.P. Bharucha, around noon about the attack. Initially, the hearing of cases was adjourned in different benches for a while before lunch, but the court resumed normal functioning in the post-lunch session after additional security personnel were deployed.
A red alert was sounded in the capital soon after the attack. Its borders have been sealed and the Station House Officers asked to personally monitor the security arrangements.
Police and intelligence agencies have been asked to carry out combing operations in hotels and guest houses. Hospitals and nursing homes will also be checked to ascertain if there was a sixth terrorist who escaped.
Addressing mediapersons, the Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr. Ajai Raj Sharma, said though securitymen were at maximum alert, `fidayeen' attacks could not be stopped. However, all necessary precautions were being taken. Some new measures to deal with such attacks would also be devised.
Bomb disposal squads and Army explosives experts were busy till late in the evening trying to defuse the grenades left by the terrorists which had not exploded.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Front Page
|
