Two 'Beasts' arrive in New Delhi

A United States official cargo carrier arrived at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here to ferry two of President Barack Obama’s armoured limousines called the “Beast” which he would be using during his three-day official tour beginning on Sunday.


The two Beasts were offloaded from the US official carrier and are parked at the IGI Airport under strict security vigil, said Delhi Police officials looking after the high profile visit. 

Barack Obama will also land there and will be driven in the Beast to Maurya Sheraton Hotel on Sardar Patel Marg on Sunday morning.

The bullet-proof car weighing eight tonnes  is a seven-seater so that it can house, apart from driver, a chief security agent and four others apart from the President Obama himself.

A peek into the Beast’s interior was provided by a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting next to President Obama during the latter’s America visit after occupying Raisina Hill last May.

A Central Industrial Security Force official said that special US aircraft have been landing at the international airport to drop security related equipment and advance team for ensuring that Obama’s trip to Delhi and Agra is safe.

It is still not known whether Obama will travel in Beast or in bullet-proof vehicle of President Pranab Mukherjee when the two reach Rajpath for Republic Day parade on January 26. 

Obama is the first US president to attend the parade as chief guest. In the second Beast, an Indian doctor would travel along with US president’s health related equipment and blood bank to face any eventuality.