Policemen arrest a Tibetan
protester in front of the Chinese embassy in New Delhi on
Wednesday. — Reuters |
New Delhi, April 16
India's bustling national Capital is all set to host the Delhi leg of the Olympic relay on a midsummer afternoon, backed by a multi-tier security cover.
Sources in the ministry of home affairs and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) confirmed an unprecedented defence shield for the relay, on a scale larger than what is normally arranged for the Republic Day and the presence of two Chinese torch attendants.
Seventy sportsmen and sportswomen who have brought glory to India, have accepted the IOA's invitation to run in the torch relay from Rashtrapati Bhawan to India Gate, in the company of equally distinguished citizens representing the film industry, the corporate world and civil society. Although the IOA refused to disclose the time of the relay, it is expected to take place at 4 p.m.
The sources, however, said the torch expected to be flown into Delhi from Islamabad at midnight, will be preserved amidst multi-tier security.
Leaving nothing to chance, the ministry of home affairs issued an advisory making the relay route out of bounds on Thursday afternoon. It ordered closure of windows and doors of all buildings facing Rajpath after 1 p.m. The advisory also prohibits entry of visitors to all government buildings overlooking Rajpath after 1 p.m. These include the Prime Minister's Office, the North and South Block. The advisory clearly says that nobody will be allowed to enter or come out of these buildings as these will be sealed between 3 p.m to 6 p.m. As a result, anybody who wants to leave the area after 1 p.m. will have to wait till 6 p.m. Nobody will be allowed to assemble on the lawns of North Block and South Block. Senior officers working in these offices have been advised to prepone or postpone their meetings.
The relay route termed as “iconic and picturesque'' by IOA president Suresh Kalmadi, will witness the deployment of a large posse of policemen, including those drawn from Delhi Police, Rajasthan Police, the BSF and the NSG.
Sources said the number of men in uniform may actually touch 14,000. Kalmadi, however, tried to downplay security arrangements describing them as “normal”.
Sources in the Chinese Embassy today confirmed that the Chinese Ambassador to India, Zhang Yan, the Chinese Consul General in Mumbai, Zhang Wei Guo, a young diplomat in the Chinese embassy, Delhi-based Indian Chinese George Lawrence Chilli, will grace the international event.
