The Indian Army has always been in the forefront protecting the Motherland. With the same gusto, the Indian Army has demonstrated its social responsibility – whether it is rescue and relief operations in cloud-burst-hit Leh or in flood-affected Bihar or earthquake in Gujarat or in helping the civil administration in matters of internal security.
Known for its methodical and no-nonsense approach, the Army has been drafted into various mega events. Many people may not know that the Army played a huge role in the successful conduct of the 1982 Asian Games. Maj Gen (Retd.) Bhandari who was at that time the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area had provided support for the Asian Games. The Army had deployed substantial manpower and facilitated in the success of all major ceremonial events. After 28 years another mega event, the Common Wealth Games is round the corner (October 3 to 14, 2010) and the Armed Forces will be making its presence felt in more ways than one to make the Games a success.
For the success of any mammoth event the Army is always called in whether it is the 1982 Asian Games or Beijing Olympics 2008. For the success of the Beijing Olympics, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had a huge role. The security arrangement of the games was managed by the Army. PLA had established a security unit, consisting of Army, Navy and Air Force personnel. These PLA security units would mainly deal with non-traditional threats during the games, particularly biochemical and nuclear attacks. They were also responsible for managing border control so that they could prevent any terrorist activities. Be it sea or air PLA’s presence could be easily felt. They had even sent their military delegations to learn from Australian and Greek military experience in protecting Olympic Games. The games were a huge success and the whole world noticed it.
Common Wealth Games 2010 are going to be the biggest multi-sporting event of India with over 8,500 athletes from 72 countries participating. The mega event will have tremendous spectator value, both from within and overseas and to ensure that the games go on smoothly, the Indian government and the Ministry of Defence are investing manpower and other resources substantially. The Army will be taking care of all the ceremonial events of the games like Flag hoisting, march past of the athletes etc. About 750 armed forces bands personals will be displaying their musical talent and around 150 will play at the opening ceremony and remaining 600 will play at closing ceremony respectively.
The Army will be providing accommodation for 2500 artists, including 1000 women artists, who will be performing at the opening and closing ceremony of the mega event. At least 1000 Army Jawans and 160 officers have been assigned various duties. Trained Army sniffer dogs have been given to the Delhi Police which will keep a check on illegal activates. Teams which can handle (CBRN) chemical, biological, Radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats have been drafted, besides bomb disposal squads. The National Security Guards (NSG), the best in the business, will also add muscle to the security cordon of the Games.
Security ring
According to an official who spoke on condition of anonymity, about 1000 Police officers, NSG commandos, Delhi police Commandos and Para-military officials will be placed at strategic locations at all the games venues. They have been given adequate training to handle any untoward situation or security breach. To ensure smooth traffic management lanes will be chalked out for games vehicles. These lanes will connect events venues, hotels, the games village, practice venues and other vital places. Along the routes there will be anti-sabotage teams, quick response teams, commandos, ambulances and snipers on the rooftops.
In terms of technology the government is ensuring that it has the best equipment in the business. Sophisticated screening equipments have been bought and installed at all the venues. Around 1900 CCTV’s (close circuit television) have been placed at vantage points to capture all activity, besides X-ray baggage scanners are been placed at key locations which could neutralize the threats of bombs.
Four-layer security
The official mentioned that there would be four-layer security - outer, middle, inner and exclusive levels of security at all the venues. The outer most layer will include soft checking such as ticket checking and parking facility. It will be done with the help of close circuit television cameras. In the middle level, spectators and visitors will be channelized to their designated seats; in the inner level tickets will be rechecked through barcode screening. In the last level of security screening metal doors, hand –held detectors, X-ray baggage scanners, manual frisking and CCTV will be used. Vehicles of organizers, VIP’s, visiting dignitaries, participants and their family members will be checked through pre-allotted radio-frequency identification, under vehicle and licence plate scanners. To ensure real-time coordination among various agencies a command, control, coordination and integration centre has been established at Delhi police headquarter.
The official said “the mega event requires mega attention. We along with the organisers are at it to make the Delhi Common Wealth Games a resounding success.”
