Indian security agencies are taking no chances while providing security to the leader of the free world. Delhi has turned into a fortress ahead of the arrival of United States President Barack Obama.
A tight security cordon has been put around Parliament, where the US President will address the members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Monday evening. As Parliament has already faced a terror attack in the past, security agencies have decided to use the services of the National Disaster Management Authority to provide additional security cover this time.
The NDMA, which was formed in 2007, was set up to counter biological, chemical and nuclear terror strikes. It was used to ensure fool-proof security at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
The agency has already deployed two vans on standby near Parliament, a source told rediff.com.
"We use the services of this specialised wing only when we receive specific inputs or when a very high-profile dignitary visits our country," sources in security agencies told rediff.com.
The primary job of the team is to detect the threat of any kind of biological or chemical attack. The vans are fitted with state-of-the-art mechanism and equipment that can detect any sort of leak. The NDMA team also coordinates with other security agencies in picking up intercepts. Sources say that the NDMA team will continuously check the premises of the venue they are guarding for any such security risk.
According to security agencies, the NDMA has been called on to help beef up the already tight security cover around Parliament as they want to take no chances during Obama's visit.
Incidentally, the NDMA team will be deployed only near Parliament, as it is the most high-profile location the US President will visit in Delhi.
Prior to Obama's visit, intelligence agencies had directed all security agencies to brace for any form of attack by terror outfits. They had picked up over 10 specific intercepts of terror groups trying to create mayhem during the crucial visit. Although there was no specific intercept about terrorist groups planning to carry out chemical or biological attacks during the visit, security agencies still sought the services of the NDMA since terror groups have always thrived on the surprise element while carrying out an attack.
