Delhi Police Intensify Republic Day Security, Targeting Chemical Shops and City-Wide Surveillance
Ahead of Republic Day, Delhi Police have significantly heightened security across the city. Key measures include intensified inspections and verifications at chemical shops to prevent the sale of hazardous substances, following a previous blast near Red Fort. Surveillance has been stepped up in sensitive areas with CCTV and drone monitoring. Nearly 20,000 personnel, including paramilitary forces, are deployed city-wide, with increased checks at borders, entry points, and public hubs, alongside efforts to curb drunken driving and maintain peace.
Delhi Police have launched a comprehensive security drive ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, focusing on preventing potential threats and ensuring law and order. A primary directive involves district units conducting thorough inspections and verifications at shops selling chemicals, drugs, and industrial substances. This initiative aims to ensure that no banned or hazardous chemicals are sold in bulk, with shop owners instructed to maintain detailed records and logs for police verification. This heightened scrutiny comes in the wake of a blast near the Red Fort in November, which reportedly involved the transportation of explosives.Beyond chemical shop monitoring, a broader security drill is underway across sensitive areas. This includes large-scale verification drives, coordination meetings with central security agencies, and intensified surveillance in vulnerable localities. Police, assisted by civic agencies, are installing and monitoring CCTV cameras, with drone surveillance also planned for select pockets. Community engagement is also a focus, with meetings organized with local peace committees to promote communal harmony and counteract misinformation. For over a month, police have been verifying identities of individuals in sensitive areas and inspecting hotel CCTV systems.To maintain peace and order, nearly 20,000 personnel, comprising traffic police and paramilitary forces, have been deployed across Delhi. Multiple pickets, barricades, and vehicle-checking points are established, particularly at entry points, party zones, markets, and nightlife hubs. Security has also been tightened at the borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Traffic police have implemented a detailed plan to curb drunken and rash driving, utilizing breath analyzers and promising strict action against violators. Additional forces are stationed at key landmarks like India Gate and Red Fort, with Quick Reaction Teams positioned strategically throughout the city, reflecting a robust security posture for the upcoming Republic Day.