10,000 paramilitary personnel deployed in Delhi ahead of R-Day

According to sources, the decision to deploy 100 companies of central paramilitary forces in the city for Republic Day was taken to thwart possibilities of a terror attack.

“Highest possible security cover will be given in Delhi in the run up to the Republic Day and during the celebration where the French President will be the chief guest,” said a home ministry official.

Fifty companies of paramilitary forces were deployed for Republic Day in 2014, while 95 companies were deployed in 2015 when US President Barack Obama was the chief guest. To neutralise any threat from air, no-fly zones will be implemented across several areas of the capital.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting Tuesday to review the security situation in the country.

With intelligence inputs warning of the possibility of more terror attacks by outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba, security arrangements to foil such attacks were discussed at the meeting.

According to sources, particular emphasis was placed on securing defence installations ahead of the Republic Day, especially Army and Air Force installations located along the India-Pakistan border. These sites have been placed on high alert, sources said.

Sources said that coordination between multiple agencies to ensure real-time sharing of actionable intelligence was also stressed upon during the meeting.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Singh at the latter’s residence Tuesday evening, amid uncertainty over whether the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan, scheduled for January 15 in Islamabad, will go ahead as planned. While the offices of both ministers did not comment on the issues discussed, sources said the Pathankot attack may have figured during the 20-minute meeting.