New Delhi: As many as 15,000 policemen fanned out acrossDelhi as anunprecedented security cover was thrown around the capital to prevent anyterrorist activities as it celebrated the 58th Republic Day today (Jan 26,2007).

Stringent security arrangements were in place, mainly along the parade routeand around the India Gate area, with special emphasis on tightening accesscontrol measures to thwart human bomb attacks.

Securing the Rajpath, the main venue of Republic Day Parade, a multi-layersecurity ring was in place.

Around 400 armed commandoes of the Delhi Police were positioned along theparade route from Vijay Chowk to Red Fort while about 15,000 Delhi Police andArmy personnel were deployed across the capital.

Police deployed mobile hit teams and anti-aircraft guns as elite NSG snipersand commandoes of the Delhi Police and ITBP were posted at strategic locationsas part of the massive ground-to-air security apparatus put in place in view ofterror threats.

All roads leading to Rajpath were sanitised and major traffic diversions weremade to regulate entry of vehicles into the vicinity of the parade route, whilepeople coming to view the parade had to go through multiple security checks.

All vehicles entering Delhi'sborders had to pass through multiple checks.

Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns,were also made to check intrusion of air space of the capital, a no-fly zoneduring the 105-minute parade. Besides, three military choppers maintained airsurveillance all along the parade route.