NCR on high alert after Article 370 scrapped

New Delhi: The national capital was put on high alert on Monday in wake of the revocation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and for the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations.

The agencies were asked to take special care to ensure the safety and security of residents of Jammu and Kashmir, especially students hailing from the trouble-torn state living in various parts of the national capital.

The Delhi Metro too issued a fresh advisory to ensure that no untoward incident took place in the mass-rapid rail network that runs across the National Capital Region (NCR) and carries lakhs of commuters every day.

The Union home ministry directed the Delhi police to be on maximum alert so as to pre-empt and prevent any breach of security or public order.

Security was also beefed up at the Delhi Airport, railway stations, and ISBTs. Further, police presence was increased in areas that have high footfall.

“Being the national capital, Delhi is always on alert and Delhi police ensures that no untoward incident takes place. We were already beefing up the security arrangements in view of Independence Day, but after the directions of the Centre we will keep strict vigil,” said a senior police official.  

An advisory for remaining on a high alert mode was issued to all the security forces across the country, including Delhi police.

The ministry of Home affairs (MHA) alert is based on general inputs analysed after  any important event. The latest directive came after the government abolished Article 370 that gives special status on Jammu and Kashmir and also in view of the upcoming Independence Day celebrations.

“Adequate publicity may be given to the measures taken by state governments and Union Territory administration to inspired confidence in the sections concerned and to sensitise the public against any mischief or breach of peace,” it said.

Suitable instructions should be issued to law enforcement agencies to maintain vigil against circulation of false, unverified news, rumours, and unscrupulous messages on social media aimed at disturbing peace and public tranquility and inciting violence and communal discord,it said.

In a tweet from its official handle, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said, “As advised by security agencies, a red alert has been imposed on the entire Delhi Metro Rail Corporation network. Please allow extra time in security checks.”

“The commuters could be made to go through two layers of frisking with a hand-held metal detector as well as a physical check by the CISF personnel at select stations that will be selected randomly keeping in mind the dynamic security situation,” DMRC officials said.

“Their baggage too could be checked twice, first by the security scanner and then physically by the security personnel,” they added. About 28 lakh commuters use over 220 stations of the DMRC daily to reach destinations in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurgaon.