Tight security for grand finale

With over 4,000 police officers and SWAT,NSG,SPG and CRPF commandos being deployed,the stadium will become a veritable fortress. The four-layer security check would be followed by ‘soft check’,during which every person heading towards the stadium will have to show his accredition card or ticket to the security personnel standing on the road. “If the ticket or card is found to be invalid,the person concerned will be sent back,” a senior officer said.

The four-layer security checks would start at entry points,with police officers first identifying the persons with the aid of RF readers,passing them through metal detectors and,finally,subjecting them to a manual check. While confusion had prevailed during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games,when police officers disallowed spectators from taking cameras inside,they have now been instructed to confiscate only the 40 banned items that have been listed.

However,the Delhi Police has not made any arrangements for storing articles brought in by spectators this time either. When asked to comment on the issue,officials said the confiscated items would be disposed of in accordance with provisions of the law.

The closing ceremony,which is expected to draw as many as 60,000 spectators,will be attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Sri Lankan President Mahendra Rajapakse and other dignitaries. The Delhi Police will start deploying personnel to the site from Wednesday night,and logistics are being checked.

The Indian Air Force has been asked to stay alert during the event. The police officials have requested the public to occupy only the seats that have been marked in their tickets. Police Commissioner Y S Dadwal visited the stadium on Wednesday to check out the security arrangements,it is learnt.