Security forces take over CWG venues

PTI

New Delhi, 28 September 2010: The Delhi Police on Tuesday said security forces have fully taken over the Commonwealth Games venues and a fool-proof security blanket is in place. “All venues have been handed over to the Delhi Police. We have a perfectly fool-proof security,” Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal told reporters after attending a meeting on Games security chaired by Home Minister P. Chidambaram here.

 

The meeting, attended by senior police and security officials, took stock of the overall Games security apparatus. Dadwal, who is commanding more than one-lakh security personnel including paramilitary forces and NSG commandos, said every security aspect is being looked after. “Security situation is totally under control. We have gone into details...everything is looked after,” he said.

 

Referring to traffic situation in the city after dedicated Games lanes have been earmarked on certain roads, Dadwal said the situation is quiet good. “Traffic situation is fine...as good as can be. One lane is reserved on certain circumstances. The situation is quiet OK. We are not reserving the lanes for 24 hours. We are only reserving the lanes from 8 AM to 8 PM. At night there is no such restriction,” he said.

 

 

Over one lakh security personnel have been deployed for the Games including about 175 companies (17,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces, 3,000 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 200 dogs and 15 bomb disposal squads. About 150 personnel of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) of Delhi Police have been trained by the Indian Air Force and the NSG to shoot down suspicious manned or unmanned “flying objects“.

 

Seventy one countries and territories are participating in the event scheduled from October 3 to 14. The Games Village has been transformed into a fortress with over 1,000 security personnel, helped by a plethora of safety gadgets and armed commandos, guarding the premises on a 24-hour basis.

 

Along the routes at different corners of the city, Quick Reaction Team (QRT) vehicles have been parked with gun totting personnel keeping a close eye on the traffic. NSG snipers will also be positioned at different points at the venues and along the routes to thwart any sabotage attempt or probable terror attacks.