Over 25,000 security men to shield India-Africa Forum Summit

With the four-day India-Africa Forum Summit commencing on Monday, an elaborate net is in place to ensure a foolproof security for the delegates.

Aerial vigilance, snipers, roof-top marking and close circuit TV cameras and deployment of over 25,000 security men comprise the multi-layered security net in the capital.

"Over 25,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed. Security agencies will be working in tandem with the African security apparatus in central and New Delhi areas during the summit," a senior police official told IANS.

"There will be multiple VVIP arrangements, which will affect traffic, and congestion is expected in and around ITO, Vikas Marg, the Ring Road stretch (near Delhi Secretariat), the Mathura Road stretch near Pragati Maidan, India Gate and adjoining areas of New Delhi," the official told IANS.

The conference venue, the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on the bank of the Yamuna river in central Delhi, and Pragati Maidan will be kept under strict vigil, with a policeman deployed every 10 metres.

As many as 18 X-ray baggage scanners are being installed at the stadium, police said.

Delhi Police took over control of the two venues on October 11.

Almost one-fourth of the Delhi Police's force has been deployed to secure the four-day summit to be attended by the heads of state or government of 54 African countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the summit.

More than 300 CCTV cameras have been installed at ITO, Delhi Secretariat, Raj Ghat and all areas in the vicinity of Indira Gandhi Stadium, the main venue for the summit, the official told IANS.

"Aerial survey, roof-top marking, positioning of snipers in high-rises, setting up of multiple pickets on certain stretches and sanitising the potential VVIP routes shall form part of the security arrangement," the official added.

Traffic Police on Saturday used helicopters for the first time to monitor arrangements for Durga idol immersions, the official informed IANS.

"Apart from more than half the police forces of central and New Delhi districts, sleuths from the Crime Branch and Special Cells have also been roped in to bolster the arrangements," said the official. Three DCP rank officials of Crime Branch are supervising the separate units, he added.

"Apart from them, the whole team of Police Control Room is coordinating the arrangements, as are the personnel from the battalions reserved for specific purposes," he said.

Also, a special dog squad "K9" of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been pressed into service to sanitise and conduct anti-sabotage checks at the venues.

The summit will conclude on Thursday.