Delhi deploys 15,000 police personnel, 200 paramilitary companies for BRICS meet

The Delhi police have deployed around 15,000 personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces as part of a multi-layered security arrangement for the BRICS Summit, with at least 16 heads of state or government and their delegations expected in the city over the next three days.

Security has been stepped up at summit venues, hotels, historical sites and VVIP routes, with additional personnel deployed at Delhi’s borders.

Special Commissioner of Police (Protective Security Division) Manish Agrawal said there was multi-agency coordination with central agencies, the National Security Guard and other forces. “Restrictions on traffic have been made keeping in mind that there is no inconvenience to the public. There are restrictions on traffic, but no route has been completely closed,” he said.

At Bharat Mandapam, the main summit venue, access control, verification and preventive policing measures have been put in place. The venue and surrounding areas have also been designated no-flying zones.

A central command room will monitor CCTV feeds along VVIP routes. Around 500 cameras, including those capable of reading vehicle number plates and 4K cameras for facial identification, have been installed along the Tughlak Road corridor.

Additional personnel have been deployed at border checkpoints, particularly in areas adjoining Ghaziabad and Loni. Inter-State coordination meetings have also been held on border security and traffic management.

The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations unit is monitoring social media and other online activity for potential cyber threats.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar has banned the operation of drones and several other small aerial platforms across the national capital until September 14 under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.