Secret Service Teams Arrive, Cellphone Networks To Be Jammed Around Gateway Of India For Obama Visit
21 US secret service teams have recced Mumbai city on their own and a flotilla of US warships is being kept ready near the Mumbai coastline to give the US president fullproof security during his
21 US secret service teams have recced Mumbai city on their own and a flotilla of US warships is being kept ready near the Mumbai coastline to give the US president fullproof security during his stay in Mumbai, reports MidDay.
The entire area around Gateway of India may face a jamming of cellphone network during Obama's stay, the report said. Phone jammers and gadgets catching even whispers in 5-km radius have arrived in Mumbai.
The most astonishing part is that the US Secret Service teams are profiling even senior Mumbai Police officers as part of their security precautions, with the host city's police reduced to being a police merely manning traffic and barricades, says the report..
In anticipation of Barack Obama's impending visit in the first week of November, a barrage of secret spies, security personnel have set foot in Mumbai.
And they're armed with a host of electronic devices to ensure that the President is secure. For instance, if you even whisper a word related to terror, you will be trailed. And they've got along cellphone jammers too.
All this to ensure that not an ant slinks past the President's security cordon.Twenty-one advanced teams from the US Secret Services, have arrived in the city.
"The teams, which also include top officials of the FBI and CIA, are working on their own to foil any possible threat to the President," a senior state intelligence official said.
"They will keep 24/7 vigil over the skies and sea as hundreds of US intelligence officials are expected to descend on the city."
Intelligence sources said the almost-invisible advanced teams, each comprising seven members, have carried out recces of the city, including roads and buildings along which Obama could pass.
"During the last four weeks, they have profiled some senior officers of the Mumbai police," the sources said.
The advanced team is supported by an estimated 20-member CIA team permanently stationed in Mumbai. Members of this team have data on various government agencies and corrupt officials.
"So far, the city police have been kept in the dark. The FBI and CIA have not shared intelligence with their Mumbai counterparts," said a senior IPS officer.
"The Mumbai police's role could be restricted to controlling traffic on the streets and manning barricades around the hotel where the US President is staying," said a senior police officer.
The Indian intelligence is not even aware what gadgets have been brought into the country as part of Obama's security programme.
"Several containers with security equipment have been shipped into Mumbai in the past few weeks," said an intelligence officer.
"Most of the equipment shipped into the country is related to electronic surveillance and eavesdropping.
Some highly sensitive radar systems can even pick up whispers within a 5-km radius," said officials who did not wish to be named.
"Most of the equipment is computer-aided and can decipher information within seconds. The computers are fed to home in on sensitive words related to terror."
The area around the Gateway of India is expected to be monitored by the radar system. So, cellphone users could find their network jammed within the radius of a few kilometres from where the President is.
The President's outer ring of defence will comprise the FBI's anti-terror specialists and marksmen travelling with him on the same plane.
The inner ring will have at least 24 bodyguards who will cover the President from all possible angles from the moment he lands in Mumbai.
Sources said a US fleet comprising an aircraft carrier and at least seven frigates will position itself in the Indian Ocean. The flotilla will be called in case of an emergency situation.
Naval spokesperson Captain M Nambiar was not available for comment.
Unconfirmed reports have it that Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, could assist the CIA and FBI on security-related issues. Mossad is believed to have increased its team in Mumbai after the 26/11 attack.
Other agencies from the United Kingdom, Germany and Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence could be snooping for inputs on the eve of US President's Indian visit.
*Area near Gateway of India may be monitored by radar system, causing cellphone network to get jammed
- Teams from US Secret Services have carried out recces of the city. They will keep 24/7 vigil over the skies and sea
- A US fleet comprising an aircraft carrier and at least seven frigates will position itself in the Indian Ocean.
- The flotilla will be called in case of an emergency situation.
- Several containers laden with security equipment have been shipped into Mumbai recently
- Sensitive radar systems can pick up whispers within 5-km radius and catch sensitive words relating to terror.
- At least 24 bodyguards will cover the President from all possible angles from the moment he lands in Mumbai.
- Israeli intelligence agency could assist the CIA and FBI on security-related issues.
- CIA team in Mumbai has collected data on various government agencies and corrupt officials