Security beefed up in Delhi for Holi

Over 2,500 paramilitary commandos will be on guard along with Delhi Police on the national capital's roads on Holi on Thursday following intelligence inputs of a terror threat.

Senior Delhi Police officials refused to speak on intelligence inputs about terror threat in the National Capital Region as well as Punjab but confirmed that tightened security will be in place in the city on Holi.

"We are already on alert to handle any unprecedented incident. On Holi, we have made some special (security) arrangements. All vital installations in the city like airport, Metro stations, bus depots, railway stations and marketplaces will be manned by armed commandos of paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel," Delhi Police chief spokesperson Taj Hassan told IANS here.

"Over 2,500 paramilitary commandos will be present on the streets along with Delhi Police to handle any unprecedented incident. More than 2,500 traffic policemen too will keep a close watch on those flouting road safety norms and creating problems for other commuters and women," the officer said.

Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Muktesh Chander said special mobile traffic teams will keep a tab on hooligans and those violating rules.

"A total of 403 traffic police teams will be deputed at different junctions before 8 a.m. on Holi. Those found guilty will face challans, cancellation of driving licences for three months, impounding of vehicles, and arrests, if necessary," Chander told IANS.

He said traffic police teams will also check drunken driving, triple riding and stunt riding. "Our special focus is to save lives of people injured in road accidents."

Police will also keep a tab on suspicious activities during the festival of colours.

Sources said personnel of the Special Cell and Crime Branch have been briefed about the security inputs following the bomb attacks in Belgium capital Brussels.

At least 34 people were killed on Tuesday as two deadly explosions rocked the Zaventem airport and a more powerful blast ripped through a train coach at a Metro station in the heart of Brussels.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, security agencies went into a tizzy after an Indigo Airlines call centre in Chennai received a call about bomb threat to 10 of its planes. Passengers of Indigo planes that landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here were evacuated after the call.