Nation wrapped in security blanket on eve of 63rd I'day

Security personnel were out in force and kept a tight vigil at vital installations, transport terminals, markets and places of worship, especially in the national capital, on the eve of 63rd Independence Day when IEDs and bombs were recovered in Jammu and Assam.

Though there was no specific intelligence input of a threat to the celebrations-the first after the Mumbai terror attack, security forces and intelligence agencies were leaving nothing to chance with terror groups, Left wing extremists or insurgents in North-East having the potential to carry out possible suicide terror strikes.

The area around the 17th century Red Fort here where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will unfurl the national tri-colour and address the nation from its ramparts has turned into an impregnable fortess with gun-toting security personnel guarding evey nook and corner of the area.

All entry and exit points to the walled city were also regulated.

In Jammu and Kashmir, security personnel recovered two Improvised Explosive Devices in Jammu region prompting the security personnel to carryout repeated checks.

A major disaster was averted in Assam with seizure of seven powerful IEDs from Guwahati and another from Bongaigaon district after intelligence inputs that ULFA and NDFB activists might try to disrupt the celebrations.

The Indo-Nepal border has already been sealed by the authorities and tight vigil is being maintained along the Line of Control and International Border along Pakistan and Bagladesh.

The area around the Red Fort where Singh will be addressing the nation -the first during his second tenure has been completly sanitised by security and intelligence agencies and the area will be a no-fly zone during the function.

Officials of Delhi Police, elite SPG and NSG along with other security agencies carried out detailed recee of the Red Fort area to thwart any attack.

Sharpshooters, dog squads, bomb disposal squads and anti-aircraft and air defence guns have also be deployed and put on high alert as part of security drill around the key installations of the national capital.

Snipers of elite National Security Guards will also be positioned on top of high-rise buildings in the old Delhi area around the Red Fort and along the route taken by Prime Minister and other VIPs to reach there.

The security agencies will also be maintaining tight vigil around key installations here including Parliament complex, Railway stations, bus-terminus, Indira Gandhi International airport and metro stations.

The borders of National capital will be sealed and tight checking is already going on at all the entry points of the national capital.

Outside the capital, security has also been tightened in Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam and other North-Eastern states.

Security agencies are also keeping a close watch on the Indian maritime borders to counter any attempt of the terrorists to use the sea route to enter the country.

Besides, patrolling by Sashastra Seema Bal and police personnel has been enhanced along the porous Indo-Nepal border to prevent Nepali Maoists from sneaking into the Indian territory to disrupt the celebrations.