Chennai:
A security blanket has been thrown over Chennai with as many as 17,500 police personnel deployed to ensure peaceful celebrations of the Independence Day today, police said.
Intensified anti-sabotage and vehicular checks were being held across the city as part of enhanced security arrangements. About 5,500 police personnel have been deployed for security at Fort St George where Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa will unfurl the national flag.
Around 12,000 additional personnel drawn from wings, including the Armed Reserve, have been posted at all key locations including vital installations.
Snipers have been positioned at several "vantage positions" that would witness VVIP movement on the day and screening of air, train and bus passengers were being done, police officials added.
Meanwhile, the police added that they have sanitised the whole Fort St George premises housing the State Secretariat and that the place will be out of bounds for unauthorised visitors.
Vigil has been enhanced on the coastline and on the highways leading to the city as part of security arrangements.