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Indian Express
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Operation Sindoor flag, tiered seating among firsts at this year's event at Red Fort
A special flag to symbolically honour Operation Sindoor, an Under Vehicle Surveillance System (UVSS) amid heightened security measures, a tiered seating arrangement so that can guests can have a better view of the ceremony, and interlocking pavements for better movement of vehicles and visitors: these are the among the firsts for the Independence Day ceremony this year at Red Fort in Delhi. Operation Sindoor was initiated on May 7 this year in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 citizens. It showcased a calibrated, tri-services response, according to the government, and a targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) and deeper inside Pakistan. In a symbolic gesture, the valour of the forces will be highlighted during the celebrations on August 15 at the Red Fort, said officials. In the run-up to 79th Independence Day, the Delhi Police has already stepped up the security arrangements at the Red Fort. With the officers frp, the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) on senior police deployment, a two-layered ring security system has been put in place, starting Sunday. Around 15,000 personnel of the Delhi Police will be deployed at the Red Fort and the surrounding precinct, officers highlighted. Large-scale mock emergency exercises, hotel inspections, and increased patrolling are among the measures that are already being implemented, said officers. Snipers, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos, drones, and 700 AI-enabled CCTV cameras with facial recognition facility will also be a part of the security arrangements. Specialised cameras can count the visitors and lens blockers obstruct visual access to the high-security targets, said officers, elaborating on the arrangements. Along with the traditional undercarriage checks using a mirror, an officer said, the Delhi Police will be using the UVSS to scan the underside of the vehicles for hazardous substances. In another first, bleacher seating system or a tiered seating arrangement will be in place this time. The space-efficient seating system — which is seen in stadiums — will ensure that the guests can have a better and orderly view of the celebration, said officers. To curb logistical issues that plagued the ceremony in the last few years, such as waterlogging, the authorities have sought assistance from the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to install interlocking pavements. This will help the authorities to accommodate up to 2,000 parked cars and ease pedestrian movement. On August 15, Delhi Police will also deploy 'kite-catchers' to make sure that stray kites do not move into restricted airspace over the Red Fort. The officers will be on high alert in a bid to ensure a clear flying zone.
Hindustan Times
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Local census, hi-tech surveillance for Independence Day event in Capital
A comprehensive security and surveillance plan—ranging from a full-scale residential census to the deployment of high-tech video analytics and advanced vehicle scanning systems—has been set in motion around the Red Fort and its adjoining areas ahead of this year's Independence Day celebrations. For vehicle security, the Delhi Police will introduce the under vehicle surveillance system (UVSS) at Red Fort entry points—marking its first use for Independence Day security. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO) These measures were finalised during a high-level coordination meeting held on Tuesday, involving officials from the Union Ministry of Defence, Delhi Police, the army, the air force, and other participating agencies. A senior Delhi Police officer said a census exercise launched about two weeks ago in the sensitive neighbourhoods near the Red Fort such as Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazar, Jama Masjid, and Paharganj. 'While census drives have been done before, this year's operation is more expansive. Police personnel are visiting households across the area, checking identities and verifying the background of non-local residents through their home states,' the officer said. In a first for the Independence Day event, five types of surveillance cameras will be deployed in the days preceding the celebrations, and these will include head count cameras capable of automatically tallying the number of people in a frame and devices designed to flag unattended or suspicious objects. The officer added that on the day of the event, cameras with intrusion detection features will be activated around restricted zones. 'This is in addition to the existing technologies already in place—facial recognition systems and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras,' the officer said. Another key upgrade involves seating arrangements at the venue. Moving away from the traditional flat layout, this year's audience seating will follow an auditorium-style configuration, allowing for an elevated view of the celebrations. 'Each row will be raised to ensure attendees have a clear, uninterrupted view,' the officer explained. For vehicle security, the Delhi Police will introduce the under vehicle surveillance system (UVSS) at Red Fort entry points—marking its first use for Independence Day security. 'Though UVSS has been used during high-profile visits, this is the first time it will be deployed for August 15. It enables detailed scanning of the underside of vehicles, improving detection of hidden devices,' said the officer. More than 10,000 Delhi Police personnel and 3,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed in and around the Red Fort complex, key routes, and other sensitive zones in the national capital on August 15. The celebrations will be overseen by a multilayered security ring equipped with anti-drone and anti-aircraft systems. Officials said aerial surveillance will be intensified, and coordinated drills are underway to maintain a tight vigil on any movement near the venue. The measures are part of the broader national security apparatus being scaled up across the Capital in the lead-up to the Prime Minister's address from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Indian Express
Undertrial killed by inmates: What Delhi High Court has said in the past on security in courts
In 2021, when gangster Jitender Gogi was gunned down in the Rohini court complex allegedly by rivals, the Delhi High Court had initiated a public interest litigation (PIL) on suo motu cognisance. While the PIL continues to be pending before the HC, police has given repeated assurances of heightened security measures each time a shooting incident was reported from a court. Two assailants, dressed up as lawyers, had shot at Jitender alias Gogi, who was also a high-risk prisoner, in September 2021. Gogi was being produced in court with the police. Responding to the firing, the police fired back at the assailants. The incident left Gogi and the two assailants dead. Here is an overview of the HC's remarks in recent years on security in courts. September 2021 A division bench of the High Court, on September 30, 2021, took suo motu cognisance of a firing incident at the Rohini court complex on September 24, 2021, with three lives lost, and recorded that 'there is an imminent and urgent need to take effective measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur' and to ensure 'safety and security' of the 'advocates, litigants, court staff, witnesses as well as the judges and judicial officers.' The court had immediately suggested interim measures such as the deployment of sufficient police personnel in all court complexes, installation of CCTVs at all strategic points for round-the-clock vigilance in district court complexes as well as the High Court complex. Among other measures, the court suggested the installation of high-tech metal detectors and baggage scanners, provision of UVSS (Under Vehicle Surveillance System), efficient frisking mechanism, regular meetings with stakeholders concerned about the security arrangements, and specialised training for the police personnel deployed at the HC and district court complexes. It had sought responses from a slew of stakeholders, including the Delhi government, the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bar Council of India, the Coordination Committees of all district courts, and the Delhi High Court Bar Association, along with the bar associations of all the district courts. Subsequently, in October 2021, the Delhi Police had told the HC that security of all seven district courts in the city was taken over by the Security Unit, a specialised unit, and that necessary security arrangements were being made, and more police personnel were being deployed. It had also told the court that it is conducting 'a detailed joint security review of all seven District Courts by seven Security Unit team headed by an Officer at the level of ACP.' The police had also told the court that it is taking several measures such as deployment of a higher number of security police personnel for access control in all the Courts with extra support by the Central Paramilitary Forces ('CPMF'), apart from measures such as installing different security gadgets such as door frame and hand-held metal detectors, X-ray scanners, CCTVs etc. In November 2021, the HC had issued directions to the Delhi Police Commissioner to constitute a team of experts to undertake a security audit of complexes of the High Court as well as all the district courts, which would factor in the various factors peculiar to each of the complexes. Based on the audit, the Delhi police chief was also directed to undertake a 'periodical review' of the security arrangements. The November 24, 2021, order further records that concerning high-risk Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs), 'as far as possible, their appearance may be secured through virtual mode. Wherever or whenever there is a necessity to produce such UTPs, physically abundant care and precautions shall be taken in terms of providing adequate police escort and checking/frisking etc,' adding that 'the directions shall be scrupulously followed by all concerned'. April 2023 In April 2023, another shooting took place at the Saket District Court complex, where an advocate had shot at a woman and injured her. Taking note of the incident, on April 26, 2023, the HC recorded that 'security personnel deployed in various court premises, including the High Court, are facing some resistance in the matter of frisking and checking of cars.' The court had then suggested that joint meetings be held between bar associations and senior police officers while counsels for the Delhi government and the union government had assured the court that they would ensure 'proper security arrangements are in place to avoid any such incident in the future.' July 2023 On July 5, 2023, another firing incident between two groups of lawyers took place at the Tis Hazari court complex. Taking note of the incident, Delhi Police's Sandeep Byala, DCP, Security Courts, had told HC that frisking of lawyers and litigants and those who are entering the court building is 'being rigorously done in all the court complexes' and at the time, Byala had told HC that the Delhi Police 'is beefing up the security arrangements in all the Court complexes, including the High court of Delhi.'
