Based on intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based terrorists were trying to find a fresh base "within striking distance" of the capital to target VVIPs and symbols of national importance such as India Gate and Red Fort, Delhi has been placed on extra alert with the festive season just around the corner, a top Delhi Police official said today. Last week there were inputs of a threat to Connaught Place and other areas putting the police on heightened vigil, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Neeraj Kumar told a news conference. For the past couple of weeks, before and after Independence Day, Delhi had been the likely target of "spectacular terrorist strikes" via the Jammu and Kashmir route and the events of the past 24 hours and this morning clearly bore this out.
| They're referring to the shipment of explosives and the subsequent shootout... |
An arms and explosives-laden truck was intercepted leading to the encounter killing of two Jaish-e-Mohammad ultras at Millennium Park in east Delhi late last night. This also led to the arrest of another two of JeM ultras from Bulandsahar district of western Uttar Pradesh this morning. Yesterday morning, gelatine sticks were recovered from the New Delhi railway station.
| That would seem to make it a pretty major bust. Hadn't heard about the second snag... |
Detailing the events, the JCP said Delhi Police had received a specific input from central intelligence agencies of a truck with JK number plate carting arms, ammunition and explosives and bound for Delhi. The last three digits of the number plate were 153 and on checking the record at the Azadpur Mandi revealed that a truck bearing the number plate: JK-03-0153 had entered on August 28 at around 2300 hrs but the truck was nowhere to be found, Kumar said. Extensive searches carried out in the Mandi area and the parking lots around proved futile, Finally, at around 1400 hrs yesterday, the truck was seen parked near the Qutab Road parking with no occupants. |