Security has been beefed up for the India-Africa Forum Summit underway in New Delhi amid intelligence reports of a possible threat from extremist outfits ISIS and Boko Haram.
Several SWAT and HIT teams have been deployed in the city to avert a potential terrorist strike. The summit is being attended by heads of 54 African states, the police said on Monday. The teams remained deployed in and around the central venue, Indira Gandhi Stadium, and on all routes identified for VVIP movements, according to a police official.
TS Luthra, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Security), has said the police are ready to deal with any kind of emergency, including potential terror strikes, and specialised teams are kept reserved for this purpose.
Two helicopters remained deployed round-the-clock as part of the security arrangements. While one chopper is dedicated to surveillance, the other is for handling contingencies.
The helicopters have been provided by the Indian Air Force, said a senior official. However, no helicams or unmanned aerial devices are being used for surveillance. A separate control room has been set up to monitor the main venue and the VVIP routes, the official said.
Around 200 CCTV cameras have been installed at the venue and 300 more in central Delhi areas, including ITO, Delhi Secretariat, Raj Ghat and all locations in the vicinity of Indira Gandhi Stadium, the official added.
The Foreign Registration Office and the police are reportedly keeping an eye on African nationals who have recently arrived in the city.
The possibility of a terror strike are higher during the four-day summit as several heads of state are under threat from Boko Haram, which is mainly active in Nigeria and has aligned with ISIS.
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