A security person keeps vigil at Rajpath on the eve of Republic Day parade in New Delhi on Monday, January 26, 2016. (Press Trust of India photo)
Elaborate security arrangements were in place across the country for the
Republic Day celebrations tomorrow with police in the national capital and neighbouring states keeping an eye out on "drones", which have been perceived as a major threat.
The national capital is already on high alert ahead of the official celebrations here -- where French President Francois Hollande is the Chief Guest -- after inputs were received about the presence of key members of several terror outfits in Delhi.
In the national capital, as many as 71 high-rise buildings in the vicinity of Rajpath will be shut down either partially or completely tomorrow in view of the Republic Day parade.
Delhi Police Chief BS Bassi had asked his force and police departments of the neighbouring states to keep a vigilant eye on drones, as they have been perceived as a major threat to security, according to a senior police official.
The matter attained priority after a UAV was spotted near IGI Airport in New Delhi around three months ago but its source or handler could not be tracked by the police, following which Delhi Police announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh last month for any information about it.
State capitals and major cities across the country have seen security being beefed up at vulnerable places and key installations.
In Punjab, which was recently shaken by the strike at the Pathankot air force base, additional personnel have been posted at bus stands, railway stations and government buildings, officials said.
Similar arrangements are in place in Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Both states and Chandigarh are on high alert following the terror attack at Pathankot.
In Jammu and Kashmir, security has been stepped up across the Valley to thwart any plan by militants to disrupt the celebrations.
Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel have been deployed in Srinagar and at entry points to the summer capital of the state, police said, adding that barricades have been erected for carrying out random searches of vehicles entering the city.
Police personnel have been carrying out area domination exercises in the areas around Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, where the Valley's main parade will be held on Tuesday, and around the venues at district headquarters, they said.