New Delhi: In a serious security scare just days ahead of Independence Day, Delhi Police on Monday detained five Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly tried to forcibly enter the Red Fort premises. The arrested men, aged between 20 and 25, were identified as illegal immigrants working as labourers in Delhi.
The detention sparked alarm, especially as the historic Red Fort is set to host the Prime Minister’s address on August 15, a day that draws maximum security attention every year. Police said the five men were apprehended during an attempted intrusion and were found carrying Bangladeshi documents.
“All of them are illegal immigrants. They tried to forcibly enter the Red Fort premises and are currently being interrogated,” a senior police official confirmed. The motive behind their attempt remains under investigation, and agencies are probing whether there is any larger network or intent linked to their actions.
7 Cops Suspended After Dummy Bomb Goes Undetcted In Security Drill
This incident has added pressure on security forces already under scrutiny due to a recent major lapse during a routine drill. Just two days before the detentions, seven police personnel, including constables and head constables, were suspended after they failed to detect a dummy bomb planted during a security exercise conducted by Delhi Police's Special Cell.
In the drill, officials in plain clothes managed to smuggle a dummy explosive inside the Red Fort to test preparedness. Shockingly, the on-duty security team failed to detect it, leading to swift disciplinary action against the involved personnel.
“A Special Cell team entered the Red Fort premises in civil dress with a dummy bomb on Saturday. The on-ground policemen failed to trace the device, resulting in their suspension,” a senior official said.
Both incidents, the dummy bomb lapse and the arrest of the Bangladeshi nationals, have raised serious concerns about the overall security apparatus at one of India’s most critical ceremonial sites. With just days left for Independence Day, Delhi Police have now intensified surveillance, increased manpower deployment and launched a full internal review. Security protocols at Red Fort have been tightened and more rigorous drills are expected in the lead-up to August 15.
