http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20101104_1014.php
India Boosts Security for Obama Visit
Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010
India is deploying WMD detectors and a host of other security measures to protect U.S. President Obama during his visit to the South Asian state, the Indo-Asian News Service reported today (see GSN, Sept. 20).
Obama is expected in India on Saturday at the beginning of a 10-day tour of Asian nations (see related GSN story, today).
No particular danger to the president has been identified, but authorities are not taking any chances, indicated Home Secretary G.K. Pillai.
“We do believe that the visit of of the president of the United States of America to India is, shall I say from the publicity point of view, is large enough to try and create something even if it is not in any place nearby where President Obama would be. But it could be somewhere else and, therefore, we would take all precautions.” he said.
Among those precautions are: biological, chemical, nuclear and radiological detectors and related technology at hotels in which Obama is scheduled to stay; deployment of Indian warships near Mumbai during the president’s visit to the city targeted by extremists in November 2008; and jet and helicopter patrols over Mumbai and New Delhi, along with additional city police and National Security Guard operations in the cities.
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It almost looks like he’s going in as bait....Who or what are they fishing for?
ITC Maurya taken over by US security
Thursday, November 04, 2010 9:09:36 AM by IANS
Barack Obama New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Seventytwo hours before US President Barack Obama reaches Delhi, the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel which will host him has been literally taken over by US security officials.
Around 50 white colour Toyota Camrys, Honda Accords and mini vans, some hired and others with the blue diplomatic number plates of the US embassy were parked in an exclusive parking lot in front of the hotel lobby.
“These cars are used by American officials to travel from the hotel to the embassy and back. Entry of private vehicles inside the lot is absolutely barred,” a valet attendant who did not wished to be named told IANS.
With police personnel patrolling the lawns outside the hotel on foot and police van with armed commandos stationed on both sides of the main gate, the seriousness of the atmosphere was palpable.
A guard at the main entrance gate had an electronic hand-held RDX detector which replaced the under vehicle inspection mirrors used as recently as last week to detect hidden bombs.
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