New Delhi: National Security Guards will guard the Olympic torch during its three-km relay in New Delhi on April 17. China had earlier requested that its commandos be allowed to accompany the flame, but India turned it down.
Home Ministry sources say helicopters will also be used for air surveillance and the torch could be carried inside a vehicle if the situation worsens.
The Communist nation had requested that its elite China Red Guards commandos accompany the torch, sources told CNN-IBN.
India is already arranging a three-tier security for the torch relay.
“As far as the Government of India is concerned, we are committed to provide complete security to the Olympic Torch,” said Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma.
“We are confident of ensuring the relay of the torch in India with respect and security. Our officers and security agencies are capable of providing complete security to the Olympic torch,” said Sharma.
Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta had discussed the Chinese request on Monday, report newspapers.
Widespread disruptions of the Olympic torch relay because of protests against China may lead to the dropping of the international section of the run from future games, IOC officials said Tuesday.
Torch of trouble
Thousands of raucous protesters angry about China’s hosting of the Olympics Games, its policies in Tibet and human rights record haunted the torch relay across the British and French capitals this week.
More problems were expected Wednesday in San Francisco, the only North American leg of the relay.
China has denounced the protests in London and Paris as despicable, but vowed Tuesday to continue the relay to the end.
On Monday, organizers were forced to cancel the last third of the Paris route after demonstrators hurled water at the flame and lunged at torchbearers.
The security detail protecting the torch had to repeatedly extinguish it along the route and retreat to the safety of a bus, although the Olympic flame continually burns in a lantern brought along the route.
