January 25, 2008	Friday	Muharram 15, 1429

NEW DELHI, Jan 24: Tight security has been clamped in New Delhi from Thursday ahead of the Jan 26 Republic Day military parade, news reports and officials said.

Some 15,000 security personnel were combing the city's train stations, shopping malls and cyber cafes for a range of possible terrorists from the disputed Kashmir Valley to Punjab, Assam and now also Tamil rebels from Sri Lanka, the reports said.

Police have intensified anti-sabotage and anti-explosive checks, especially on the route of the parade where French President Nicolas Sarkozy would be watching as this year's chief guest.

Police officials said sharpshooters of paramilitary forces are being deployed on the route as well as on other locations in South Delhi.

Security forces are also conducting last-minute drills to plug any loopholes on the eve of the Republic Day, Press Trust of India said.

It added that intelligence agencies have received inputs about some militants sneaking into the city to strike during the celebrations.

Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and snipers will be pressed into service, while armed paramilitary and Delhi Police commandos will keep a close vigil along the most sensitive parts of the route. There were reports recently of the arrest of Tamil Tiger suspects in Delhi but nothing much more has been said about the matter.