New Delhi: With the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issuing a nationwide alert in the wake of a ghastly attack at a school in Pakistan, Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi on Wednesday assured that all necessary steps were being taken to ensure the safety of U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to New Delhi in January next year.
"Whatever is necessary is being ensured," Bassi told ANI here while reacting on the Delhi Police's preparedness for the U.S. President's visit.
The U.S. President will be the chief guest at India's 66th Republic Day Parade on January 26 next year.
Reacting to the latest alert issued by the Intelligence Bureau, Bassi said the overall security scenario was being looked after and added that all necessary steps were being taken by the men in uniform.
"We keep in mind the overall security scenario in the country as well as anywhere else in the world and we also keep in mind the latest inputs available regarding the security situation and then we ensure whatever is necessary, that is done," he said.
Reacting to the Centre's advisory to increase the vigil around schools, Bassi stated that the Delhi Police was in touch with various schools with an objective to help them improve their security standards.
"We are also in touch with various schools. The objective is to ensure that they are made aware of various security precautions, their security arrangements are strengthened and they are able to deal with any emergent situation, if any contingency arises," he told ANI here.
Meanwhile, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Director General B.D. Sharma said that his men have been asked to be extremely careful following the alerts issued by the MHA and IB.
"We had received an alert from the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday. We have also received an alert from the IB. We had even issued alert to our officials that we have to be extremely careful in wake of such an incident. We had given directions that if any information is received , necessary action must be taken," Sharma said.
"The Indo-Nepal border is sensitive and we have issued directions to our officials to increase the patrolling," he added.
According to reports, the MHA has issued an advisory of a possible terror attack on schools and public places that could be targeted by militants from across the border.
The MHA advisory, which comes in the wake of Tuesday's terror attack on a school in Peshawar, has reportedly also noted that the terrorists are looking for ways to disrupt the U.S. President's visit in January.
The police officials have been requested to tighten the vigil at possible soft places that could be targeted by terrorists.
India has offered all possible help to Pakistan in the wake of the incident. A total of 141 people, including 132 students and 9 staff members of the Army Public School were killed in the terror attack.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif over the telephone and strongly condemned the brutal terrorist attack. The Prime Minister said the people of India shared the heart-rending pain and sorrow of the bereaved families and stood with them in solidarity in this hour of immeasurable grief.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has claimed responsibility for the attack. The spokesman for the organisation stated that the attack was revenge for the Pakistani military's operations in the North Waziristan tribal area.
