Ground-to-air security mounted as nation braces for Republic Day

New Delhi: The country was wrapped in a multi-layered security cover on the eve of the Republic Day with thousands of security force personnel keeping a hawk-eye vigil to ward off any terror strike during celebrations of the national event on Sunday.

Ground-to-air security has been mounted in the national capital with over 25,000 police and paramilitary personnel keeping a constant vigil, a day before unfurling of the 65th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Rajpath here.

Sharpshooters of the National Security Guard (NSG) will position themselves on rooftops of high-risers along the 8-km route of the parade which will showcase India's military might and rich cultural diversity.

"Some 125 buildings around the Rajpath have been sealed and rooftop surveillance mounted to keep subversive activities at bay," Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Mukesh Kumar Meena said.

Patrolling at marketplaces and other vulnerable areas has been intensified and checking and frisking at Metro, railway stations and bus terminals stepped up, officials said here.

A central monitoring centre has also been established where CCTV footage from around 160 CCTV cameras installed on the parade route will be relayed live.

In Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh, vigil has been heightened at bus stands, railway stations, government building, dams and other places.

An alert has been sounded in the two states with police and paramilitary personnel manning key places, officials said in Chandigarh.

In Rajasthan, all guest houses and hotels have been asked to strictly check the identity of guests.

Amid boycott call of the celebrations by insurgents in restive Manipur, security has been heightened in the northeast state, officials said in Imphal.

Police are intensively frisking the passers-by to detect movement of militants who have reportedly infiltrated in the state capital complex to disrupt the event, they said.