By IANS
New Delhi : Security was enhanced around the capital’s new landmark, the sprawling Akshardham temple, after Delhi Police received intelligence inputs that Kashmir-based militants may attack it Friday.
However, it was not clear whether terrorists would strike at the Akshardham temple in Delhi or in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
“We had received intelligence input four days ago that a Kashmir-based militant outfit may carry out blasts at the Akshardham temple today (Jan 4). However, it was not clear which temple they intended to strike,” a senior police official told IANS.
“But we did not take the intelligence input lightly, keeping in mind the latest terrorist attack on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recruitment camp in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. All security measures were put in place,” the official said, adding that the input “now appears to be vague”.
The official said the identity of the militant outfit could not be ascertained as the intelligence input was based on intercepts.
The Akshardham temple in Gujarat witnessed a terror strike on Sep 25, 2002, when two heavily armed terrorists scaled the perimeter fence and opened fire, killing a woman and a temple volunteer. Then they threw grenades into the crowd of pilgrims at the temple, killing 29 people and wounding 79.
Delhi’s Akshardham, built on the banks of the Yamuna river, is visited by hundred of thousands of people every day. The temple in east Delhi recently gained entry to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world’s largest Hindu temple complex.