Delhi on red alert over possible terror strikes

A red alert was issued in Delhi late on Wednesday after receiving intelligence inputs about a possible terror strike in the capital during the festival season.

As per intelligence inputs, 3-4 hardcore and "highly-motivated" terrorists are suspected to be present in the national capital.

The suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists are reported to have infiltrated into Delhi to carry out terror attacks in retaliation to the abrogation of Article 370, that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

The deputy commissioners of police (DCP) of all 15 districts have been directed to heighten security at vital installations and ensure maximum mobility of police personnel on streets to avoid any such terror strikes.

Meanwhile, based on the inputs, Delhi Police Special Cell is conducting raids at several locations in the city. The sleuths are reportedly carrying out raids at 9 locations which began around 9 pm on Wednesday.

On the other hand, an orange alert has been sounded for Srinagar, Avantipur, Jammu, Pathankot and Hindan airbases bases after the monitoring of the terrorists' movements by the intelligence agencies, an India Today report stated.

The Indian Air Force bases in and around Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have been put on alert after inputs warned of a possible Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide attack on Indian troops.

The development comes days after Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said that the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp in Pakistan's Balakot, that was bombed by the Indian Air Force in February, had been reactivated recently and about 500 infiltrators were waiting to infiltrate into India.

Rawat further said that Pakistan is carrying out ceasefire violations to push terrorists into the Indian territory, adding that the Army is alert and will ensure that maximum infiltration bids are foiled.

Post the revocation of Article 370, militants have been resorting to civilian killings and threats to instil fear among the people so that the return of normalcy is prevented in the valley.

On September 9, Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the Army and other security forces including the Central Reserve Police Force had arrested eight militants from the Sopore region after busting a terror module of the LeT.

The arrests come a week after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had said that more than 200 terrorists were trying to cross into India from Pakistan and Islamabad was trying to stoke violence in the region.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army and intelligence sources, quoting the confessions of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists captured recently in Jammu and Kashmir, have also said that around 300 trained militants are prepared to enter Indian territory from Pakistan.

Tensions have heightened between India and Pakistan after the Centre's move to revoke special status to Jammu and Kashmir with Islamabad stating it a "strategic blunder" that will cost New Delhi "heavily".

Copyright: The Statesman/Asia News Network (ANN)