Snipers, drills... Delhi is Obama ready

Image: A hotel security guard stops the media outside the Hotel Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters Vicky Nanjappa

The Delhi Police is working overtime to ensure that the security is fool proof ahead of United States President Barack Obama's visit to the national capital on Sunday afternoon.

Security is at an unprecedented high, a Delhi police official told rediff.com.

Obama is expected to arrive in New Delhi at around 3.30 pm IST, following which he has a host of programmes before he leaves the country on Tuesday.

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Snipers, drills... Delhi is Obama ready

Image: A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside the Hotel Maurya Sheraton in New Delhi
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

A team of the Intelligence Bureau, along with their US counterparts, have secured all the areas where the President would be in. Mock drills are being conducted around all the places that the President would visit, including Parliament.

The drills will continue till the last minute, sources said.

Delhi will also see scores of snipers all over to guard the President of the US.

Snipers, drills... Delhi is Obama ready

Image: Security personnel keep watch inside the lawns of Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi
Photographs: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

The security is multi layered and security forces comprising nearly 300 personnel from the US will form part of the first ring of the security. The other rings will comprise members of the Delhi Police, NSG Commandoes and other personnel numbering over 2000.

The Delhi Police have advised the people not to venture out into areas where the President's convoy will be moving by.

All these roads will be out of bounds for the public until the President's convoy passes, officials said.

Snipers, drills... Delhi is Obama ready

Image: Security personnel stand guard on a road in New Delhi
Photographs: Parivartan Sharma/Reuters

The Indian Air Force too has been pressed into service and will remain on stand-by until Obama leaves the city.

The Maurya Sheraton has been declared as a no flying zone. Hotel personnel have been advised to stop the virtual tour services on their web site until the President leaves.

The entire area will be out of bounds until the visit is over, Delhi police officials said.

In addition to this there is high security in the Old city area of Delhi.

Snipers, drills... Delhi is Obama ready

Image: Indian and US flags fly outside the Maurya hotel
Photographs: Kamal Kishore/Reuters

IB inputs had suggested disturbances from those parts of Delhi like was done just ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

The IB and the Delhi Police have been gathering inputs and collecting material from the old city and have said that if the needed, preventive arrests and detention too would be undertaken.

Prior to the visit, intelligence inputs were picked up that suggested that trouble could be caused by certain elements from the old city.

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