With the Olympic torch about to make its run in India on Thursday, the Chinese government has asked India to step up security in fear of an attack on the torch by Tibetan protesters, reported India eNews.
A high-level Chinese team led by former ambassador Sun Yuxi, who has been specially sent to India by a nervous Beijing, met Delhi government officials Tuesday to discuss security for Thursday’s torch relay ceremony.
“They are so fear stricken that all types of baseless apprehensions are doing the rounds in their minds. They fear that Tibetans may attack the torch relay from hot air balloons. They asked if Tibetans can open fire from rooftops too,’ a senior government official told IANS.
In recent weeks, protesters have disrupted the Olympic Torch relays in London, Paris and San Francisco. Indian officials have assured China that the event will run smoothly.
The Jantar Mantar observatory is the official place earmarked for protests.
The authorities have decided to bring in only 3,000 school children to take part in the torch relay, down from the earlier figure of around 20,000.
The relay route, from Vijay Chowk near the presidential palace to the World War I India Gate monument, has been heavily barricaded.
See also this Reuters story about shortening the Indian torch route.
