NEW DELHI: Guarded by about 17,000 security personnel, the Beijing Olympic torch was taken through a 2.3 km stretch in the national Capital without any disruption on April 17 amid anti-China protests by Tibetans close to the area.

The majestic Rajpath witnessed unprecedented security for a symbolic event which was smooth and incident free. The Prime Minister's office and Ministries of Defense, External Affairs and Finance lining the torch route from Rashtrapati Bhavan remained closed for five hours.

The run lasting for about 40 minutes was truncated from nine km in contrast to the 31-km relay four years back when the Athens Olympic flame passed through the Capital and was witnessed by thousands of people with gusto.

Nearly 70 participants in the relay were guided by Chinese security guards in blue and white tracksuits while crack Delhi police commandos wearing a red and white sportsgear ran alongside.

With a three-layered security ring akin to Republic Day arrangements in place, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit handed over the Olympic flame to Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi after it was lit by vice-chairman of Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee Jiang Yu with the imposing Rashtrapati Bhavan forming the backdrop.

'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh, one of India's greatest athletes, had the honor to lead the relay before the torch changed hands with the celebrities including sportsmen, film stars and politicians taking short runs culminating at the India gate.

The Delhi run saw ace tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who took over the torch from former Olympian Randhir Singh, together lighting the Olympic cauldron at the India Gate bringing an end to the traditional ceremony which kept security personnel on tenterhooks. Sportsmen Aslam Sher Khan, Dhanraj Pillay, Zafar Iqbal, Wilson Cherian, Khazan Singh, K Malleswari, K Kunjurani, Bishen Singh Bedi were among others who took part in the event.

The tinsel industry was represented by Aamir Khan and Saif Ali Khan. The public was kept out and all the access roads to the historic stretch was cut off for several hours to ensure a smooth passage of the torch relay which was earlier plagued by disruptions in London, San Francisco and Paris.

Para Olympian Rajinder Singh Rahelu, who was on a wheelchair, was among those who carried the torch which was kept at a five star hotel overnight after it was brought from Islamabad amid tight security. The India leg of the torch relay is considered one of the most sensitive in its global voyage as the country is home to about one lakh exiled Tibetans, who organized a wave of protests against Chinese crackdown in Lhasa.

The Delhi run saw ace tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, who took over the torch from former Olympian Randhir Singh, together lighting the Olympic cauldron at the India Gate bringing an end to the traditional ceremony which kept security personnel on tenterhooks.

Sprint Queen P T Usha, former Olympic bronze medalist weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari and world shooting champion Manavjit Singh Sandhu were among other sportspersons took part in the relay. Barricades were put all along the Rajpath to thwart any attempts by Tibetans to sneak in.

Barbed wire fences were put up outside the heavily guarded Chinese Embassy, which was targeted by Tibetan protestors in recent weeks. Delhi police commandos dressed in red and blue tracksuits were joined by Chinese security guards in providing close security cover and flanked the runners who passed on the flame after running a few meters.

Apprehending trouble by Tibetans, government had imposed an intense security blanket in the capital, particularly at and around the Rajpath. The roads leading to Rajpath and its surrounding areas had been barricaded with thousands of security personnel keeping a tight vigil. Traffic was regulated for about seven hours in the city and restrictions were put on movement of Metro train.

Offices flanking the Rajpath were ordered to keep the windows closed and employees working there were not allowed to come out during the time of the relay. A large number of police personnel were deployed at Chinese Embassy in Chanakyapuri, where a number of protests have taken place recently.