Security alert in India for Independence Day

The Red Fort, a 17th-century Mughal-built complex where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will deliver his maiden Independence Day address, was sealed off Friday as commandos carried out mock drills against possible attacks.

"We are taking all possible measures for ensuring security on Independence Day. For this airspace (over the capital) has been blocked," Delhi Police Commissioner K.K. Paul said.

Armed police and paramilitary troops set up road blocks at the city's 18 entrances from adjoining states. The air force said it would deploy fighter jets to prevent possible aerial attacks on Sunday.

The security measures came in the wake of intelligence reports that the pan-Islamic militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba planned attacks during celebrations marking the 57th anniversary of independence from Britain, a home ministry official said.

The two groups were blamed for a December 2001 attack on the Indian parliament that nearly set off a war with rival Pakistan.

Tight security was also imposed in other parts of India including the insurgency-hit northeast and Kashmir, where separatists call strikes each year on the anniversary.

Police said troops had Friday recovered rockets and explosives dumped in a field near Bakshi Stadium, the main venue for Independence Day celebrations in the Kashmiri summer capital Srinagar.