independence day
NEW DELHI — Indian police were out in force on Friday as the country prepared for its first Independence Day celebrations since last year's deadly Mumbai attacks.
Paramilitary forces and heavily-armed police guarded monuments, markets, transport terminals and religious sites in the capital New Delhi amid fears of attacks by militant groups on Saturday, the 62nd anniversary of the end of British rule in 1947.
Airport security and the coastguard were also on alert but the home ministry said there was "no specific threat" to the national day celebrations.
"Given the general climate, security has to be beefed up," said Onkar Kedia, spokesman for the ministry, adding that states had been asked to step up their security arrangements.
Authorities across revolt-hit Kashmir were also on alert after reports that anti-India rebels were planning attacks amid escalating violence in the Muslim-majority region.
Over the past ten days, the Indian army has foiled nine attempts by rebels to infiltrate from the Pakistani zone of the disputed Himalayan region.
India says Pakistan-based militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrilla force were responsible for the Mumbai attacks last November, and unidentified government officials told the Press Trust of India last week that the group could stage fresh attacks on Saturday.
Last week authorities arrested two suspected members of the outlawed Hizbul Mujahideen militant group who were allegedly planning attacks in New Delhi.
On Saturday, a three-tier security ring will be set up around the Mughal-built Red Fort in New Delhi where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will appear to mark the national day.
The area has been declared a no-fly zone and security agencies have selected safe zones to shift the prime minister and other leaders in case of any attack.
NEW DELHI — Indian police were out in force on Friday as the country prepared for its first Independence Day celebrations since last year's deadly Mumbai attacks.
Paramilitary forces and heavily-armed police guarded monuments, markets, transport terminals and religious sites in the capital New Delhi amid fears of attacks by militant groups on Saturday, the 62nd anniversary of the end of British rule in 1947.
Airport security and the coastguard were also on alert but the home ministry said there was "no specific threat" to the national day celebrations.
"Given the general climate, security has to be beefed up," said Onkar Kedia, spokesman for the ministry, adding that states had been asked to step up their security arrangements.
Authorities across revolt-hit Kashmir were also on alert after reports that anti-India rebels were planning attacks amid escalating violence in the Muslim-majority region.
Over the past ten days, the Indian army has foiled nine attempts by rebels to infiltrate from the Pakistani zone of the disputed Himalayan region.
India says Pakistan-based militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrilla force were responsible for the Mumbai attacks last November, and unidentified government officials told the Press Trust of India last week that the group could stage fresh attacks on Saturday.
Last week authorities arrested two suspected members of the outlawed Hizbul Mujahideen militant group who were allegedly planning attacks in New Delhi.
On Saturday, a three-tier security ring will be set up around the Mughal-built Red Fort in New Delhi where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will appear to mark the national day.
The area has been declared a no-fly zone and security agencies have selected safe zones to shift the prime minister and other leaders in case of any attack.
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