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New Delhi:Around 6,000 security force personnel, including commandos, are being deployed in the national capital ahead of the Independence Day, especially in and around the Red Fort from where the prime minister will address the nation, police said Sunday.Besides Delhi Police personnel and commandos, officials in plain clothes and snipers have been deployed around the Red Fort, the walled city, and the central Delhi, according to Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Dharmendra Kumar."Around 80 companies of security forces (around 6,000 personnel) will be deployed on August 13, during the full dress rehearsal, and from August 14 midnight at the Red Fort and surrounding areas. These will include snipers, army and National Security Guard (NSG) commandos," Dharmendra Kumar told IANS.The area around the Red Fort has been sanitised, he added.From Sunday, Delhi Police and traffic police personnel have been spread out across the city to secure important places as well as entry and exit points at "vulnerable locations".All hotels, motels, guest houses and restaurants in Paharganj, Jama Masjid and areas near the Red Fort are under the scanner of the police. Even rickshaw-pullers and vendors in the area are being asked to keep a lookout for any suspicious objects or people.Dharmendra Kumar said that "security is not only limited to the Red Fort and Jama Masjid area but the security apparatus is being beefed up in the entire capital".

"Security has also been beefed up at railway stations, Metro stations, bus stops, markets, malls and border areas," added Kumar.

"Every nook and corner and roads leading to the Red Fort are being monitored by hundreds of CCTV cameras. Quick Reaction Teams will be deployed on the D-day and there will be surveillance by helicopters. The area will also be a no-fly zone during the function," said the officer.

Dharmendra Kumar said co-ordination meetings have been held with various security agencies and police of neighbouring districts in the past two weeks.

"Since the beginning of this week higher security has been in place in entire Delhi, and till August 15 you will see much higher police presence on the roads and at sensitive locations, including railway stations, markets, malls and Metro stations," said Kumar.

Border areas will be sealed since Aug 14 midnight, added Dharmendra Kumar.

The police are also conducting intensive drives for verification of tenants, servants, guest houses, of second hand scooter and car dealers, cyber cafe users and cycle sellers across the city to thwart any possible terror attempt.

Delhi Police have also intensified checking on the city's borders.