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Advani's security tightened

Special commissioner (security) of the Delhi police R S Gupta Wednesday confirmed that security had been tightened for Union Home Minister L K Advani and several other VVIP's, under threat from Pakistan-based militant groups like the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

"We have made the security more effective and tightened it by reorientation of security personnel," Gupta told rediff.com after a press briefing.

He said that the Delhi police was touch with their Kashmir counterparts on a regular basis and the two have been exchanging information to prevent any incident or to nab a militant. "After the interrogation of one of the accused, held for the Red Fort shoot-out, we immediately informed the Srinagar police, who liquidated one of the accused in the valley," Gupta said.

According to the Delhi police, security has been tightened at Delhi airport, railway stations and bus terminals. "We have drawn up strategies to deal with any sort of threat from militant groups. If anyone dares to challenge us, we will counter the threat effectively," said Gupta.

All 55,000 police officers and men have been put on alert in the capital, with help from para-military forces, which will be deployed in Delhi to ensure that Republic Day celebrations pass off peacefully.

He admitted that the threat perception from the militant outfits this time was greater.

"The militant groups have been getting backing from Pakistan and the threat is more serious this year. That is why we will keep a vigil with the help of helicopters in the capital to ensure that any threat from militants can be met with effectively. The militant groups have been making public pronouncements against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior cabinet colleagues,'' he added.

He said that there was another intelligence report on the presence of a group of militants in Delhi, led by Ejaz Rasool@Dinesh Sharma, Hashim Beg and Usman, Sikandar.

The control room will be manned by the officers of the level of DCP and above and an efficient system of wireless communication has been put in place, he said.

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