India celebrates Republic Day amid heightened security

[ravee2k2]

ndia celebrates 60 years as a Republic amid heightened security across the country following terror alerts and threats of hijack and air-borne suicide attacks.

The national capital has turned into a fortress. Elite commandos of the National Security Guards (NSG), central paramilitary forces, sharpshooters and snipers of the Delhi Police and the Indian Air Force have all been asked to remain on high alert.

IAF helicopters will patrol the sky to counter possible threats from banned terrorist.
 
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security has issued an advisory to all airlines to conduct a mandatory "100 per cent secondary ladder point check."

These checks are to be done on all aircrafts flying between Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Airlines have been told to activate and strengthen anti-hijacking, coordinate with security agencies concerned with the task and alert security agencies of all countries where Air India/Indian Airlines aircraft operate.

Meanwhile, there are reports of heavy firing at the international border in Kanachak area of Akhnoor sector on Monday night. The firing started near Alfa Machal BSF post around 2am and later spread in other area as well in the same sector. The BSF retaliated with heavy gunfire. A search operation is now on.