Here is how Delhi Police guarded G20 leaders using code words

According to protocol when the head of state or foreign dignitary was on the move, his or her real destination remain confidential

The hotels that the G20 leaders and their entourage stayed in during the three-day meeting of some of the most influential people in the world were reportedly given code words to protect the privacy of their movements, said Delhi Police.

After the summit ended and the security cordon around New Delhi was lifted, sources told NDTV this morning that each hotel had been given a code word for operational needs and to maintain secrecy while planning VVIP movements.

According to protocol when the head of state or foreign dignitary was on the move, his or her real destination remain confidential during radio communications between the several teams guarding them.

Each code word was a result of meetings between the security teams assigned to each head of state, the Special Protection Group (an elite commando force that protects the Prime Minister), and the top brass of the Delhi Police. All of this was under the direct supervision of the Union Home Ministry.

These terms were not even disclosed to police and security personnels at junior levels.

Here are the code words:

“Pandora” was the code name for US President Joe Biden’s house, the ITC Maurya Sheraton, which is usually where American heads of state stay when they visit India, and “Samara” was the name of the Shangri-La, where UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murthy, stayed at the G20 Summit.

Leaders from Nigeria, the Netherlands, Spain, and Mauritius, as well as World Bank officials, named the Le Meridien, or “Mahabodhi,” their “home away from home,” while the UAE Crown Prince stayed at the Taj Man Singh, or “Paramount.”

The Lalit, The Grand, The Claridges, and other temporary houses were given similar wording as well. On a soggy Sunday morning, G20 leaders and foreign dignitaries paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, which was code-named “Rudpur” due to the use of code words for locations as well. Additionally, “Niketan” was Pragati Maidan, the location where the summit was held.

Security Issues:
Despite the high level of security, there were a few uneasy moments during the G20 Summit over the weekend as at least two different protocol violations were detected.

In the first, a vehicle from Biden’s convoy unexpectedly appeared at the hotel where the UAE Crown Prince was staying, and in the second, a Saudi man made an attempt to speak to the Crown Prince when he was staying at a different hotel.

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Woe:

After his primary jet was grounded, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been enjoying a few extra days of Indian hospitality. Trudeau – who had booked into The Lalit – is is expected to fly home today.

Also Read: G20 Summit: Meet the 4 Indians behind Delhi declaration that achieved ‘100% consensus’

COMMENTS