Multi-layered security in Delhi for Obama's visit

New Delhi: After a tribute to 26/11 victims, and wowing India Inc, US President Barack Obama heads to Delhi today for a two-day stopover.

In the Capital, where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will receive him, security agencies are taking no chances, and a multi-layered security in is in place. There is tight security at the ITC Maurya hotel where President Obama will stay during his visit. (Read: PM to personally receive Obama at Delhi airport)

Indian intelligence has already secured the hotel and are sharing inputs with their American counterparts to ensure foolproof security to the high-profile visitor.

The hotel is out of bounds for the public with Indian and US security agencies taking over the building, a senior official said.

"We have sanitised the hotel. Snipers will be deployed on rooftops on Obama's route. We have a foolproof arrangement for the US President," he said.

And it's not just the hotel, places like Humayun's tomb and Rajghat that are on the itinerary, have been closed to other visitors. Hundreds of snipers will keep a watch from rooftops on the routes the US President will be taking while aerial surveillance will also be maintained, officials said.

Around 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel will be deployed in and around the hotel which had earlier hosted US Presidents Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W Bush in 2006 besides US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year.

Proximity security to Obama will be given by his guards while the other cordons will be manned by personnel from Delhi Police and paramilitary forces as also the elite National Security Guards (NSG).

Mock security drills have been done in Parliament, where the US President will address a joint session on Monday.

There will be a multi-layered security apparatus in place. The inner ring comprises 200 American secret service agents, while the outer ring will be manned by the Delhi police.

There will also be heavy security at the airport once Obama lands, and there will be major traffic diversions.

"The arrangements that we have made for him have been done several times before, when the Pakistani head of state visited us or when the Israeli Prime Minister had come. There is no special treatment just because he is the American President," said Satender Garg, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic.