The Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have foiled a major security breach attempt at Red Fort and arrested five Bangladeshi immigrants for “forcibly trying” to enter the historic monument.
“All of them are illegal immigrants,” police said, reported the ANI news agency.
All those arrested are aged between 20 and 25 and work as labourers in the national capital. The police claimed to have recovered some Bangladeshi documents from them.
"Delhi Police is very alert in view of Independence Day. We have made multi-layer security arrangements. People are allowed to enter certain areas only as per the level of authorisation granted to them. During a check, our staff at Nishad Raj Marg stopped five individuals who failed to produce a valid entry pass or ID. On further investigation, it was found that these five people were Bangladeshis," said DCP, North, Raja Banthia.
A detailed investigation has been launched into the incident, which came days ahead of the 78th Independence Day event on August 15.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police on Monday suspended seven of its personnel, including constables and head constables, deployed for the security of the Red Fort in connection with a separate incident.
The police conduct daily drills in the national capital as part of preparations for the Independence Day celebrations. On Saturday, a team of the Special Cell conducted a drill in which they entered the Red Fort premises in civil dress with a dummy bomb.
“At that time, the policemen deployed for the security of Red Fort could not trace the bomb, due to which they were suspended,” the Delhi Police said in a statement.