Delhi on high alert; hunt on for 6 terrorists

A high alert has been issued in New Delhi on the basis of Intelligence reports that six suspected Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia terrorists had sneaked into thye national capital from Deoband in Uttar Pradesh to possibly carry out attacks ahead of anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition on Thursday.

Speaking to rediff.com Delhi Police Public Relations Officer Rajan Bhagat said the suspected terrorists used a vehicle DL3C 1978 to enter the Seelampur area of East Delhi on Tuesday.

While one of the passengers travelling in the car was stated to be of African origin, two were believed to be Afghan nationals and the remaining locals, the sources said.

A thorough check was carried out in Seelampur, which prominently figured during investigations into recent serial blasts in courts in three cities of Uttar Pradesh--Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi.

Barricades have been put up along all important crossways and a thorough screening of vehicles is being conducted. Suspected pedestrians are being questioned. Delhi police has also sought the help of the public in this regard.

The information about sneaking in of the terrorists comes barely two days after an alert was issued by intelligence agencies that suspected HuJI terrorists may carry out strikes on or around December six, the day on which Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.

The HuJI terrorists, who are suspected to have established several sleeper cells in Uttar Pradesh especially in Western part, follow the Deoband sect of Islam.

Sources said since the role of Mohammed Tuffail Hussaini, HuJI terrorist and a mastermind of 1993 blasts in various trains from Mumbai to Ajmer Mumbai, it was suspected that his outfit would try to carry out a repeat of that on December six.

Forty one-year-old Tuffail, who heads the Mujahiddin Islam Al Hind, perceived as a shadow outfit of HuJI, is believed to have fled the country to Pakistan or Bangladesh via Kathmandu and is masterminding sabotage activities from across the border.

The name of Tuffail, who had not figured in any terror-related cases after the 1993 serial train blasts, started doing the rounds again this year when two terrorists, who were carrying bombs for planting on various UP roadways buses, were injured when the explosives went off prematurely.

Earlier intelligence reports had suggested that some explosives had been smuggled into the national capital from Jammu and Kashmir. Security around vital installations in the national capital has been strengthened and a similar alert for the same has been sent to Mumbai and Bangalore, the sources said.

Additional Reportage: PTI