New Delhi turns into fortress before arrival of Olympic torch

The Indian capital New Delhi has been been virtually converted into a fortress with thousands of security forces taking control of the Olympic torch relay route.

Police in New Delhi have sealed off certain parts of the town and nobody is allowed to enter near the relay routes. Around 15,000 policemen will guard the three kilometre track leading from the presidential palace to India Gate. Two Chinese guards will also accompany the flame.

Traffic will be cut off to the centre on Thursday and metro stations near the rally place will also be shut down from the afternoon to prevent Tibetan protesters from disrupting the run.

Meanwhile, Tibetan activists scaled up their protest on Wednesday ahead of a very short rally. The flame is arriving late night from Pakistan and with biggest presence of Tibetans in India; Govt. has increased the security cordon and erected wired barricades leading to main culmination venue of India Gate. Fearing a big backlash from Tibetans, the Indian government has already shortened the track from nine kilometres to three kilometres. 

Early in the morning today nearly 50 Tibetan protesters ran past the Chinese embassy brandishing Tibetan flags before they were bundled off in the waiting police vans.

Some Tibetans have planned a peaceful parallel torch rally the same day to highlight the reprisal in Tibet but some sections have plans to breach the ring of security surrounding the torch at the relay ground.