'Former Pakistani soldier planning terror attacks in Delhi on Holi'

Delhi, Punjab and Assam police were on Wednesday alerted by security agencies about an ex-Pakistani soldier having crossed over to India along with six hardcore terrorists through the Indo-Pak border in Pathankot with a plan to carry out attacks in Delhi during Holi.

In a communication, the central security agencies said Mohammad Khurshid Alam alias Jahangir, an ex-military personnel of Pakistan Army, who had worked as a recruiter, coordinator and guide of jihadi elements in Assam, had crossed over to India from Pakistan through the Indo-Pak border in Pathankot on February 26 along with six hardcore terrorists.

“The intention of this group is to kill citizens in Delhi in hotels and hospitals on or before Holi,” the communication said.

The agencies said Alam had visited a madrassa in Barpeta district in Assam in September 2015.

The ex-Pakistan armyman had stayed in the madrassa for five days and thereafter left for Chirang district, bordering Bhutan.

Alam had used another madrassa in Dhubri district in Assam as his base and used to visit other parts of the state, it said.

In Dhubri, a teacher of the madrassa provided all required logistical support to Alam, the communication added.