Delhi Police's I-Day alert: ACs can be a cool place for bombs

Air conditioners could be a cool place for bombs! That's what the Delhi Police thinks.

The force has asked security officers of all high-rise buildings in central Delhi to provide a certificate that their air-conditioners have been checked for explosives as the Capital turns into a fortress ahead of the Independence Day.

A circular was sent to several buildings on Tuesday, specially those located at ITO since they are on the route taken by VVIPs to reach Red Fort for participating in the Independence Day celebrations.

Security in the national Capital is at an all-time high with thousands of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel deployed to secure markets, airport, railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, metro stations and other places of strategic importance.

“The building security will ensure that the AC units are checked by an expert technician to ensure no explosive is fixed and give a verification certificate in this regard,” reads the police circular.

Sources said the security has been strengthened in view of the recent Yakub Memon hanging and the terror attack in Punjab. Apart from this, intelligence inputs have suggested that militant organisations and miscreants may use high-rise buildings to disrupt I-Day celebrations.

By Friday afternoon, several buildings, including the Income Tax Office and Vyapar Bhawan that fall on the route taken by the VVIPs, will be sealed by the Delhi Police.

In the circular, the police have asked for the details of the vehicles parked inside these buildings. The details have to be submitted to the local police by Thursday. The police have asked the security incharges of these buildings to ensure that the parked vehicles are checked.

“All the renovation and construction work at ITO will also be stopped from Friday noon. Each of these under construction areas will be sealed. The de-sealing process will begin from Saturday noon,” the circular reads.

Apart from this, police have asked that all the windows should be locked from Friday afternoon. The night guards of each of these buildings have been asked to be present inside the building with a separate key in case any window is found to be open. At the Red Fort, the security cordon includes NSG commandos, SWAT units, air patrol by helicopters, 500 CCTVs, special high-resolution cameras and paramilitary forces. A central control room will supervise the security bandobast.

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