By IANS
New Delhi : Police have taken “unprecedented security measures” following an alert from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) about a possible terror strike in the Indian capital within a fortnight, an official said Monday.
“We have received a letter from IB which suggests that the capital could be the next terror target of militant outfits. According to the letter, terrorists may strike in next 15 days,” a senior official told IANS Monday.
The intelligence inputs suggest that militants of the Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) in connivance with Bangladeshi terror outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) were hatching a conspiracy to target Delhi, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The official refused to comment on the possible terror targets within Delhi. “We can’t comment as it could trigger panic among people.”
Quoting senior officials, IANS had reported Sunday that outfits like LeT and JeM had joined hands with HuJI and Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), whose militants are taking advantage of the porous India-Bangladesh border to sneak into Indian territory for terror attacks.
Three bomb blasts ahead of the Diwali festival in October 2005 killed at least 60 people and injured more than 200. The explosions took place at the Paharganj market, the Sarojini Nagar market and at Govindpuri.
Officials are leaving no stone unturned to avoid a repeat of the 2005 strike.
Delhi policemen have been instructed to keep a strict vigil at the inter-state borders and areas adjoining the capital, particularly along Uttar Pradesh.
“We have taken unprecedented security measures and are fully prepared. Bomb disposal squads and dog squads have been put on high alert,” Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said.
Additional police personnel have been deployed at Delhi Metro stations, railway stations, bus terminals, cinema halls and popular markets.
“We are planning to put road barricades at various intersections and sniffer dogs have been deployed at railway stations. Metal detectors are in place at entry points in busy markets and security agencies are keeping a close watch over all areas inhabited by VIPs,” Bhagat added.