Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010: Security arrangements
With less than 24 hours to go for the 19th Commonwealth Games, the Indian capital is under a fool proof security blanket, like never witnessed before. After the Asian Games in 1982, this is the first international sports event that is going to
be held in the Indian capital on such a large scale and that has been given so much importance and protocol. Helicopter, unmanned aerial vehicles, snipers are in use by the paramilitary personnel to make sure the security in the city cannot be questioned by
any athlete or visitor.
The government of India has deployed over 100,000 security personnel. These include the commandos who will be keeping a vigil eye on all the venues before, after and during the events that will be going on in the Games venue. All the security guards and
the commandos who will be found in the vicinity of the Games Village, the Nehru Stadium and all the other venues will be armed.
India has consistently been in headlines for the past two weeks for not poor management of security and hygiene. The Organizing Committee did make progress and things have become better than how the first few batches of delegates found them. Mark Arbib,
the sports minister of Australia who wanted to take a tour of the Games Village, told the correspondents that the security is satisfying and that even he had to go pass through a thorough security check before he could enter the Village.
All the defence authorities are seen involved to make sure the security in the city is living up to the expectations of the delegates. The head of the security is the Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal. The Home Minister P Chidambaram is also looking
into the arrangements every now and then, while his ministry is active in updating him about the latest advancements being made in the security arrangements.
Aerial surveillance will be carried out at regular intervals above the stadiums and other venues of the games, with the use of armed helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the statistics of various security agencies, 175 paramilitary companies have been engaged for the Games. 18,000 personnel, 3000 commandos, 100 anti-sabotage teams, 200 specially trained dogs and 15 bomb disposal squads have been deployed for
the Games that will kick off with a historic opening ceremony on Sunday.
The Indian Air Force has also trained about 150 personnel of the Delhi Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team. These personnel have been trained how to shoot down any unknown manned or unmanned aerial vehicle found above the parameters of the venues of
the events.
The Delhi government has put the Indian Army on standby in case of any emergency during the Games. So far, the intelligence has not detected any threats from any militants or any other agencies, but they security officials say that there is no room for taking
any chances or risks.
One of the officials has been reported as saying that the eyes of all local and international media is set on the Games, and even a small mistake on part of the security management will be amplified to attract publicity and downgrade the host nation.
CCTV cameras and other security gadgets have been installed in the car parks, entrance gates and the stadiums where the events will be happening. Walk through gates have also been integrated in the venues. The officials from the Police Headquarters have
been provided with a control room from where they will be closely scrutinizing the activities going on at the events.
Besides the venues of the Games, security personnel have been deployed at places like bus stops, metro stations and airports. School, colleges, shops and all commercial centres will remain closed during the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games so
as to avoid the traffic jams at rush hours.
The Home Ministry sources state that the security was being planned for months and the arrangements are absolutely in order and adequate for the 19th Commonwealth Games Delhi.
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