Look how India is preparing for Potter's last book

New Delhi: So you want to know what happens to Harry Potter in the seventh and the ultimate treatise of the series?

You'll have to wait till the July 21 for that, considering the Internet is also not helping with burgeoning number of sites claiming access to the actual manuscript .

The release of the final lowdown on the boy-wizard and his magical world, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is witnessing unparalleled hype and expectations across the globe.

And like the West, India too is leaving no stone unturned to welcome Potter - and the first priority is - security.

"Printing is happening in UK, so a lot of measures are being undertaken there. Books are arriving in India just three days prioor to the launch. The distributor has kept only three retail outlets in India and distribution will start at 12 am on 21st itself," says retail head, Om Book Shop, Amit Vij.

The emphasis on security is but for a simple reason.

The suspense surrounding the plot and climax of the last edition is at an all time high, with Potter fans trying every trick in the book to access it before the official release.

I have mailed J K Rowling telling her I am terminally ill and might not live till Saturday to read the book. So I am expecting a mail from her telling me the details of the plot," says a Potter fan, Adya.

But Rowling is no stranger to such acts of Pottermania.

In the past too, fans have been arrested for trying to steal editions before its release. Reason why the publisher of the Potter books, London-based Bloomsbury is taking no chances this time round.

Believe it or not, a security operation estimated to cost 10 million pounds is on duty to safeguard the seventh Harry Potter book. And following suit is Penguin, the Indian distributor of the sought after last edition.

"What you are looking at is simultaneous delivery to over 300 destination in a 15-minute gap at 6 am on 21st. To achieve that you need absolute conditions where embargo is upheld and we sign a guarantee deal to ensure security," says CEO, Penguin India, Thomas Abraham.

Over two million copies of the book have already been pre-ordered worldwide, of which 2,40,000 are from India.

With so much hype surrounding Potter in the wizarding world here's hoping the Muggles will not be disappointed.