New Delhi, January 24
A security blanket will be thrown in and around the Capital for the Republic Day parade, “At Home” at Rashtrapati Bhavan and beating retreat functions in view of the threat posed by some militant organisations.

The President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries will be present at the parade. These dignitaries, particularly Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, have received threats from Pakistan-supported militant outfits. The President of the Republic of Iran, Mohammad Khatami, will be the chief guest at the parade.

Addressing newspersons, Joint Commissioner of Police (Security) S.K. Kain said intelligence inputs suggested renewed determination of Pakistan sponsored terrorist outfits like the Lashkar-e-Toiba, the Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Al-Badr and Sikh militant outfits like the KCF, the KZF to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations and to target VIPs and vital places like Indira Gandhi International Airport , Red Fort and Delhi Metro in the Capital.

The Delhi police has made security arrangements in coordination with intelligence agencies, civil, military and para-military forces. As many as 25,000 officers and personnel of the Delhi police have been put on duty. A mobile hit team of commandos from the National Security Guards and the ITBP has also been put in place.