Delhi Police Deploy 25,000 Personnel Amid Independence Day Bomb Threats

The Delhi Police placed New Delhi on high alert on August 14 after receiving an email bomb threat targeting the Red Fort, Delhi High Court, Delhi Metro, and trains arriving from Ambala. The threat made explicit references to Khalistan and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, prompting security forces to intensify checks at entry points like the Tikri Border and conduct sweeps of high-priority locations.

In preparation for Independence Day celebrations on August 15, security forces fortified the Red Fort with a multi-layered anti-terror response strategy. The security grid includes over 1,000 CCTV cameras equipped with AI-based video analytics, monitored from a dedicated control room to detect suspicious activity. More than 25,000 Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the city, with heightened surveillance at markets, transport hubs, and vital installations.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia stated that these elaborate arrangements, which included mock drills and advance liaison, were implemented in view of incidents reported in the national capital last year. The Delhi Traffic Police also issued a travel advisory for commuters to avoid restricted corridors around the Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to unfurl the national flag and address the nation.