India’s beefs-up security ahead of President Obama’s visit

World Today

Security is tight in India ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit. A seven-layer security ring and high-tech airspace monitoring was already in place. CCTV’s Ravinder Bawa reported the story from New Delhi.

India’s gate is under vigil 24-hours a day. No risks were taken as President Obama will be the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. Rajpath, the parade route, has been sanitized. Meanwhile, the home ministry monitors the security arrangements at every step.

A seven-layer security ring will be thrown around the VIP enclosure. Delhi has been turned into an impregnable fortress. New measures are being implemented to prevent any untoward incident.

“On Sardar Patel marg both the carriage way will be closed from 25th till the departure of VIP,” Anil Shukla, Joint Commissioner of Police Traffic for Delhi Police said. “Whenever there is a movement of the VIP in the city we will close The roads for security reasons.”

U.S. security forces are collaborating with Indian forces to check that all systems are in place. The scale of security this year is much higher than any of the previous ones.

“Well, all I can say that we have to have a good piece of cooperation between the two of us and it is on the ground as well,” Deepak Mishra, Special Commissioner of Police Law and Order for Delhi Police said.

A multi-agency control room will monitor the New Delhi area with 15,000 closed circuit television cameras.

Sniper, sniffer dogs and satellite surveillance have been put in place to ensure foolproof security. It is a test for the Indian security agencies to provide a safe stay to the state guest and they say they are confident.


Haiyan Wang of the China India Institute discusses US, India relations

CCTV America interviewed Haiyan Wang for more on President Obama’s visit to India and what it means for U.S.-India relations. Wang is a Managing Partner at the China India Institute in Washington, D.C.