Delhi has been placed on high alert following intelligence inputs warning of possible terror attacks using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at key installations across the national capital, sources told India Today TV.
According to sources, intelligence agencies warned that terrorists could target important locations in Delhi with IEDs, prompting the Delhi Police to intensify security measures across sensitive and high-footfall areas.
Following the alert, extensive checking drives were launched at several strategic locations in the city. Security was also tightened outside the Delhi BJP state office and the BJP national headquarters, where police personnel carried out inspections and installed additional barricades.
Sources said security forces deployed at key locations could also be potential targets.
The latest alert came weeks after the Delhi Police Special Cell busted a module linked to Pakistani gangster-terror operative Shahzad Bhatti, who is alleged to be working at the behest of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Nine people were arrested in connection with the case.
During interrogation, officials reportedly found that members of the module were planning targetted killings in Delhi.
Sources added that reconnaissance of certain high-profile locations, including a prominent temple in the capital, had also been carried out, with videos allegedly sent to handlers.
The module had allegedly plotted to target police and paramilitary personnel stationed at the temple and open fire to trigger panic and chaos, sources said.
One of the sources further said the accused were assigned to carry out a grenade attack on a popular dhaba along the Delhi–Sonipat highway, which sees heavy daily footfall, with the aim of inflicting major damage and casualties.
“A military camp in Hisar was also allegedly surveyed and videos of the area were shared with handlers across the border. Some police stations in Uttar Pradesh were also on the target list,” news agency PTI quoted the source as saying.
Last year, police busted a Jaish-e-Mohammed-linked “white-collar terror module” following the deadly car blast at Red Fort which killed 15 people and injured several others. The explosion, which took place on November 10, uncovered a chilling terror network allegedly involving radicalised doctors from Al Falah University in Haryana’s Faridabad district.
Several senior doctors, college students and administrative officials were arrested for allegedly having links with, or providing support to, suicide bomber Dr Umar Un Nabi.
The Red Fort car blast occurred just hours after eight people, including three doctors associated with Al Falah University, were arrested and 2,900 kg of explosives were recovered. The explosion involved an explosives-laden i20 car driven by Dr Umar Un Nabi.
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