Keeping in view the terror attack in Paris by the Islamic State (ISIS), the Delhi police will strengthen security and put restrictions at important places to thwart any untoward incident on the eve of the New Year. The Delhi police special cell had filed an FIR in June suspecting ISIS of planning to carry out terror attacks in the city. The sleuths recently also registered a case warning of coordinated attacks by Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militants, who had infiltrated into the national capital though Kashmir.
The police will make tight security arrangements following a tip-off by the intelligence agencies about a possible terror attack at five-star hotels, markets, temples, schools and other crowded places in the national capital.
Commando teams of the Delhi police would be deployed outside premier hotels and special measures are already in place to guard city schools. Elaborate security and traffic arrangements will also be made to ensure that celebrations are held peacefully as people are expected to throng shops at Connaught Place, the centre of celebrations in the city, India Gate and other popular attractions on the New Year’s Eve. The police said that barricades would be set up to check drunken driving and stunt biking as well.
The police is likely to restrict entry into Connaught Place after 8.30 pm on December 31 to prevent overcrowding of the British-era market. DMRC would also be asked to stop entry and exit at Rajiv Chowk Metro station after 9 pm.
“Entire central Delhi will be under heightened security and we will allow entry into CP only on the basis of invitations and area residents’ ID cards. Strict vigil will also be kept to check stunt bikers and drunken driving,” said a senior police official.
